Russian shadow fleet tanker enters English Channel after Smyrtos seizure

According to ship‑tracking data monitored by BBC Verify, the Russian‑flagged tanker Forwarder crossed the English Channel for the first time since British forces boarded the smuggler Smyrtos early Monday. The vessel, which departed from Primorsk last week, clocked a journey southward and headed to Dongying port in China.

Since the Smyrtos operation, a significant number of sanctioned vessels have altered course to avoid the Channel, opting instead for a western Irish route. The Royal Navy has reportedly deployed HMS Tyne near Forwarder’s path, possibly as a monitoring presence.

Forwarder is listed on UK, US and EU sanction lists since 2025. It has been renamed twice following accusations of smuggling Russian oil. Its current registry in Russia is considered genuine, but its ownership remains opaque.

The shadow fleet—estimated at 700 vessels—provides a vital lifeline for Russian energy exports after Western sanctions blocked 75 per cent of sanctioned oil. BBC Verify has highlighted that over 200 such vessels have passed through the Channel in recent months, with at least 94 entering UK territorial waters.

The UK’s decision to board sanctioned ships was announced by Prime Minister Keir Starmer in March, asserting that armed forces could now seize vessels not operating under legal flags. Experts, however, warn the move could further exacerbate tensions with Russia, especially if the Forwarder is potentially escorted by the Russian frigate Admiral Grigorovich, which fired warning shots at a British yacht earlier this week.

While the Ministry of Defence has yet to comment, the incident underscores a growing conflict over maritime enforcement in the Channel and the broader geopolitical implications of sanction‑busting operations.

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