Russian 'Shadow Fleet' Vessel Reenters English Channel After Smyrtos Incident

Thu Jun 18 2026 14:24:03 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

A Russian-flagged tanker from the shadow fleet has crossed the English Channel for the first time since the UK seized the Smyrtos, raising questions about enforcement and the future of sanctioned oil shipments.

BBC Verify reports that the Russian-flagged tanker's entry into the Channel marks a first since the seizure of the Smyrtos. The vessel, named Forwarder, left Primorsk on June 12 and now heads for Dongying, China. Tracking shows a nearby Royal Navy warship, HMS Tyne, in the area. Despite being sanctioned by the UK, US and EU, the tanker is still moving through the waters. The incident reflects ongoing tensions over Russia's shadow fleet after the UK pledged to board vessels violating international law.

Russian "Shadow Fleet" Vessel Reenters English Channel After Smyrtos Incident

BBC Verify has confirmed that Forwarder, a Russian‑flagged tanker, sailed into the English Channel on Wednesday evening, marking the first time a vessel from the shadow fleet has entered the waterway since UK forces boarded the Smyrtos on Sunday morning. The ship departed from Primorsk on 12 June and is now headed for Dongying port in China.

Ship‑tracking data shows the tanker in the vicinity of a Royal Navy warship, HMS Tyne, and indicates that Forwarder is still permitted to navigate the waters despite being sanctioned by the UK, US and EU in 2025. The vessel has changed its name twice in an attempt to avoid detection and has a history linked to the Kremlin’s efforts to circumvent Western sanctions.

Official queries were sent to the Ministry of Defence for clarification. The movement follows the boarding of the Smyrtos, a vessel without a clear flag that was seized by Royal Marines and charged with violating sanctions. The incident highlights the precarious legal basis for the UK’s intervention and broader tensions over the shadow fleet’s role in transporting Russia’s sanctioned oil.

Despite the presence of HMS Tyne, NATO officials have said it is unclear whether a Russian warship, Admiral Grigorovich, which recently fired warning shots at a British yacht, is escorting Forwarder. The shadow fleet, estimated to include more than 700 ageing tankers, carries 75% of Russia’s sanctioned oil and has a history of avoiding Channel crossings, often detouring around Ireland.

BBC Verify notes that since the Smyrtos boarding, multiple sanctioned vessels have altered course to bypass the English Channel, though roughly 200 shadow fleet ships have still passed through the waterway in the past few months, with 94 instances involving brief incursions into UK territorial waters.

"Going after vessels that are falsely flagged is one thing, but this would be a further step up in escalation," said former Belgian naval officer Frederik Van Lokeren. He notes that, as a Russian‑flagged ship possibly escorted by a Russian warship, Western powers are unlikely to board her, thus sparing the vessel from direct intervention.