The Russian frigate Admiral Grigorovich escorted the sanctioned tankers across the English Channel
The Russian frigate Admiral Grigorovich escorted two tankers belonging to the so-called shadow fleet as they passed through the English Channel. Their movements were monitored by the British vessel RFA Tideforce. This was reported by The Public, citing The Telegraph.
The vessels were monitored off the coast of Great Britain. The flotilla moved along the south coast, heading west.
The incident occurred after UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer had earlier stated his readiness to step up measures against Russian vessels transporting oil. He authorised special units to potentially seize such ships, though no vessel has been detained so far.
The frigate Admiral Grigorovich, part of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet, was moving between the two tankers, the Universal and the Enigma. The vessels were heading towards Plymouth. According to available data, the Universal set sail from the Russian port of Vysotsk on 18 January. The tanker Enigma, flying the Cameroonian flag, left the port of Primorsk on 29 March and was heading for Turkey.
Both tankers are subject to UK sanctions. In particular, the Universal was banned from entering British waters in September due to its involvement in the export of oil from Russia. The Enigma came under sanctions in May last year.
In addition, other sanctioned vessels were spotted in the English Channel. In particular, the tankers Desert Kite, flying the Gambian flag, and Kousai, flying the Sierra Leonean flag, were travelling in the opposite direction.
It is estimated that Russia’s so-called shadow fleet comprises around 700 vessels and transports approximately 40 per cent of Russian oil exports. Britain has imposed sanctions on 544 of them.
Earlier, the UK government had stated its intention to step up pressure on these vessels using the mechanisms of sanctions legislation adopted in 2018. Such operations may involve the Royal Navy, the National Crime Agency, as well as units from the Special Air Service (SAS) and the Royal Marines.
At the same time, Russia has warned of a possible response should attempts be made to seize the vessels. Russia’s Ambassador to the UK, Andrei Kelin, stated that appropriate measures are already being drawn up.
Analysts note that since January, over 300 vessels from this fleet have passed through British waters. Experts point out, however, that detaining each such vessel would require significant resources, particularly military and infrastructural.
At the end of March, a group of eight Russian tankers also passed unhindered through the English Channel. Some of them were travelling in French waters, which limits the scope of action available to British forces without French consent.
The UK Ministry of Defence does not comment on ongoing operations.
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