UK seizes shadow-fleet tanker, tightening sanctions on Russia’s oil trade

British forces boarded the Russian-linked tanker Smyrtos in the English Channel, arresting an Indian national for sanctions offences in the first UK-led seizure of a shadow-fleet vessel. The operation showcases intensified enforcement of Russia sanctions, with Zelensky praising the move, but analysts say it is unlikely to massively disrupt Russia’s oil exports and could push shipments to longer, costlier routes; the tanker was moved to the south coast for monitoring.