British soldiers assisted French commandos in raiding a Russian tanker suspected of violating sanctions. A helicopter from the Royal Navy’s HMS Somerset helped locate the sanctioned vessel, The Tagor, in international waters. Subsequently, French naval specialists boarded the tanker in the Atlantic Ocean, seizing both the crew and the ship. French President Emmanuel Macron acknowledged the crucial role played by British troops in disrupting the Kremlin’s funding for weapons used in the conflict in Ukraine.
This operation is part of a series of efforts by Western nations to target Moscow’s clandestine fleet of tankers used for illegal exports from Russia to evade sanctions imposed after the invasion of Ukraine. Macron emphasized the necessity of upholding international maritime laws to prevent ships from bypassing sanctions and funding Russia’s ongoing war against Ukraine.
Video footage displayed French troops descending onto the ship from a helicopter and armed forces patrolling the vessel’s deck at night. Both the UK and France have committed to preventing Russian-flagged vessels from passing through their waters. Prime Minister Keir Starmer previously authorized British forces to intercept shadow fleet ships, redirecting them away from the English Channel.
Earlier this year, the UK collaborated with the US to apprehend the Marinera, a Russian-affiliated tanker, and assisted the French in seizing the Grinch, a Russian oil tanker. The Kremlin denounced these actions as illegal and bordering on piracy, expressing disagreement with the supposed compliance with international law.
An MOD Spokesperson confirmed the involvement of a helicopter from HMS Somerset in tracking and monitoring the French-led operation on the Tagor tanker. The collective effort with allies aims to target shadow vessels to disrupt the financial resources fueling Putin’s unlawful invasion of Ukraine. Since Putin’s invasion in February 2022, the conflict in Ukraine has persisted, prompting severe international sanctions on Russia. Despite these sanctions, Russia continues to circumvent restrictions through its shadow fleet and other illicit means.