Russia has threatened to rig its sanctions-busting tankers with explosives to deter foreign interference, following the UK's interception of a Russian oil tanker in the English Channel.
UK intercepts Russian vessel
Earlier today, Sir Keir Starmer confirmed he authorized British armed forces to intercept the Russian vessel 'SMYRTOS' in the Channel. The ship had been seized after departing the oil-exporting port of Ust-Luga in the Baltic Sea on June 1 and is now being held off the south coast of England.
Kremlin mouthpiece Dmitry Rogozin, a senator and former Russian representative to NATO, called for Russia to mine its shadow fleet tankers and trigger explosions if the Royal Navy seizes them. 'We need to mine the tankers we use,' he said, suggesting the bombs be set off if tankers deviate from their routes and reach a foreign port. 'If a couple of explosions happen under their noses with oil spills and related environmental consequences, they'll soon change their minds,' he added.
Historical accusations
Rogozin also accused the UK of reverting to 16th to 18th-century practices, when it 'actively used pirates in the service of the crown for its political and economic interests.' He added: 'These pirates received “privateer's patents” from the state, which allowed them to plunder ships and colonies of England's enemies. This helped to weaken rivals – primarily Spain – disrupt their trade, and expand British colonies. Everything new is just the well-forgotten old.'
Shadow fleet operations
After being raided today, the SMYRTOS vessel will be provisionally anchored off the English south coast and monitored, according to a joint statement from the Prime Minister, Defence Secretary Dan Jarvis, and the Ministry of Defence. Russia's 'shadow fleet' carries 75% of the country's sanctioned oil, operating under obscure ownership to bypass international sanctions. Despite this, the UK has sanctioned more than 500 of its 700 vessels.
Today's operation was supported by the Maritime Air Group, an RAF P-8 aircraft, HMS Sutherland, and HMS Ledbury. In a separate operation on June 1, the UK intercepted another sanctioned oil tanker suspected of being part of the shadow fleet.
Speaking on Sky News, Lisa Nandy said: 'One of the instructions the prime minister gave early on was that he wanted us to be on the front foot, taking that decisive action in order to keep the country safe and deal with the threat posed by Russia. This morning, we've been able to successfully do that. I want to pay tribute to all the Navy officers involved in that; it is no small achievement, but it is also a significant blow to the Russians.'
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