BBC News
British forces are currently poised to engage with vessels belonging to Russia's reported shadow fleet, following the Prime Minister's endorsement of military action against these ships.
The Russian government has been accused of employing vessels that fly no legitimate national flag as a tactic to circumvent sanctions on oil, thereby sustaining its military operations in Ukraine.
In January, ministers identified a legal framework permitting UK forces to board vessels under sanction when they enter UK territorial waters, with reports indicating that the first operation of this nature is imminent.
Sir Keir Starmer emphasized that this initiative aims to hinder "Putin's war machine of the dirty profits that fund his barbaric campaign."
Despite recent heightened focus on the Middle East conflict, government officials remain steadfast in underscoring the persistent threat emanating from Russia.
The directive to board these vessels was issued as the Prime Minister embarked on a visit to Finland for the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) summit in Helsinki, which gathers military leaders from northern European countries. Starmer is scheduled to address the summit on Thursday.
In recent weeks, personnel from the Royal Navy have lent support to Finland, Sweden, and Estonia in tracking and monitoring shadow fleet vessels.
Although UK military personnel have not yet conducted boarding operations, senior government officials are keen to initiate action.
Specialist military units have engaged in training exercises aimed at simulating various scenarios, including encounters with armed crews onboard the shadow fleet vessels.
This training is reportedly complete, with the Ministry of Defence preparing for the likelihood that the inaugural operation of this kind could occur in the near future.
The Special Boat Service and Royal Marines may be included in operations, contingent upon the anticipated level of resistance from crews aboard the vessels.
Government assessments indicate that approximately 75% of Russia’s crude oil is transported by aging ships, with sanctions imposed on 544 vessels believed to comprise the shadow fleet.
Utilization of ship-tracking technology enables the identification of sanctioned vessels approaching UK waters weeks ahead of their arrival.
Military strategists and defence officials are actively overseeing these tracking systems to determine which vessels will be prioritized for boarding and detention.
Earlier this year, British armed forces collaborated with US troops to seize the Marinera oil tanker, which U.S. officials alleged was violating sanctions by transporting oil for Venezuela, Russia, and Iran.
Following this operation, UK ministers began exploring the possibility of leading similar interventions against sanctioned vessels traversing British waters.
Legal advisers highlighted the Sanctions and Money Laundering Act of 2018 as a basis for authorizing military action in this context.
However, analysis from BBC Verify indicated that numerous sanctioned vessels had traversed the English Channel in the weeks following the identification of this legal framework.
The Defence Secretary, John Healey, and Attorney General, Lord Hermer, have recently consulted with their JEF counterparts to meticulously review the legal implications of various operational scenarios.
Prior to the JEF summit, Starmer described the current global landscape as "increasingly volatile and dangerous."
He reiterated: "Putin is rubbing his hands at the war in the Middle East because he thinks higher oil prices will let him line his pockets. That’s why we’re going after his shadow fleet even harder, not just to keep Britain safe but to deprive Putin's war machine of the dirty profits fueling his barbaric campaign in Ukraine."
A spokesperson for the Conservative Party stated, "Any effort to keep sanctioned ships out of our waters is vital. However, Labour's failure to adequately support our armed forces with the necessary resources indicates a denial of the significant threats confronting our nation."
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