British forces, in collaboration with French commandos, participated in a mission to intercept a Russian tanker suspected of violating sanctions. A helicopter deployed from the Royal Navy’s HMS Somerset was crucial in tracking the sanctioned vessel, The Tagor, in international waters.
Following surveillance by the UK Royal Navy, French naval experts boarded the tanker in the Atlantic Ocean, taking control of both the crew and the ship. French President Emmanuel Macron acknowledged the significant contribution of British troops in neutralizing the Kremlin’s financial resources used to fund the conflict in Ukraine.
This operation is part of a series of actions by western nations targeting Moscow’s clandestine fleet of tankers, which are utilized to circumvent sanctions on Russia post its invasion of Ukraine. Macron emphasized the importance of upholding international maritime laws and preventing vessels from supporting Russia’s ongoing aggression.
Footage from the operation depicted French troops descending onto the tanker’s deck from a helicopter and armed personnel patrolling the ship under night vision. Both the UK and France have committed to blocking Russian-flagged ships from passing through their waters, with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer granting authorization for seizing shadow fleet vessels.
Earlier this year, the UK assisted the US in capturing the Marinera, a Russian-affiliated tanker, and aided the French in apprehending the Grinch, a Russian oil tanker. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov criticized these actions as unlawful, denouncing them as bordering on piracy and violating international norms.
A Ministry of Defence spokesperson confirmed the role of HMS Somerset’s helicopter in supporting the French operation, emphasizing the joint effort to crackdown on shadow vessels and disrupt the financial backing fueling Putin’s unlawful actions in Ukraine. The conflict in Ukraine, sparked by Putin’s invasion in February 2022, has led to extensive international sanctions on Russia, prompting the Kremlin to resort to illicit means to evade restrictions.
