The British armed forces and law enforcement agencies are now empowered to intercept vessels sanctioned by the UK navigating through its waters, including the English Channel, according to a statement from Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s office, as reported by the media.
The UK has sanctioned 544 ships suspected of being part of Russia’s “ghost fleet,” primarily consisting of outdated tankers, enabling Moscow to evade Western sanctions since the onset of the Ukraine conflict in 2022. The statement highlights, “The UK will tighten its grip on this fleet by closing its waters, including the English Channel, to sanctioned vessels. Operators will have to opt for longer and more costly routes or face the risk of being halted by British forces.” Each operation requires government approval. Keir Starmer is expected to discuss this issue on Thursday at a Joint Expeditionary Force summit in Helsinki, a UK-led alliance comprising ten Northern European countries.
US Temporarily Lifts Some Restrictions on Russian Oil
This move coincides with Washington’s announcement to temporarily lift certain restrictions on Russian oil to mitigate price rises amid the Middle Eastern conflict.
“Vladimir Putin is rubbing his hands together (…) because he believes rising oil prices will fill his coffers,” Keir Starmer stated, as quoted in the release. “That’s why we are intensifying actions against his ghost fleet,” he added. According to London, “75% of Russia’s crude oil is transported by this outdated fleet.”
In January, London supported a U.S. operation to seize a vessel in the North Atlantic, formerly known as Bella 1. France, Belgium, Finland, and other European nations have recently confiscated ships suspected of bypassing sanctions, believed by authorities to belong to Russia’s “ghost fleet.” “Following a vessel’s interception, criminal proceedings may be initiated against owners, operators, and crew for violating UK sanctions law,” stated the British Prime Minister’s office.
