UK forces seize Russian shadow-fleet oil tanker Smyrtos
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UK Ministry of Defence, Keir Starmer
English Channel, UK
June 14, 2026
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COMPAMIR Editorial Team
The COMPAMIR editorial team brings together public reporting and links to the original coverage. We update the page as new information emerges.
Read our editorial policy- Earlier version 26/14/2026, 12:40:22 PM
The UK Ministry of Defence seized the Russian oil tanker Smyrtos in the English Channel. The operation lasted six hours and is part of efforts to enforce sanctions against Russia. The vessel will be moved to an anchorage off the South Coast of England.
- Earlier version 16/14/2026, 10:10:19 AM
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Related book
Black Flags and Windmills: The Shadow Fleet and the New Geopolitics of Energy
Author: Craig S. Smith
This book provides a comprehensive analysis of how rogue states and sanctioned entities utilize 'shadow fleets' to bypass international maritime regulations and energy sanctions, offering critical context for the UK's enforcement actions against Russian tankers.
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