Gallery: Royal Marines Commandos lead interdiction of sanctioned Russian tanker

Green berets from 42 Commando of the UK’s Royal Marines Commandos lead an interdiction operation in concert with members from the National Crime Agency on CMR Smyrtos in the English Channel.

In a UK government statement, the Ministry of Defence said: “Responsible for carrying 75% of Russia’s sanctioned oil, the shadow fleet of over 700 vessels provides a critical lifeline for the Kremlin, generating a war fund that supplies missiles and drones targeting innocent Ukrainian civilians and sustaining Russia’s illegal war.

“The UK is a leader in tackling the shadow fleet, having already sanctioned over 500 vessels. And these sanctions are working, Russia’s oil and gas revenues fell by 24% year-on-year in 2025.”

This vessel was sanctioned in July 2025 and has since changed its name from Myrtos to Smyrtos as well as the flag it sails under twice; it was sailing under a false Cameroonian flag at the time of the operation while it was carrying 98,000 tonnes of oil.

Sir Keir Starmer, the British Prime Minister at the time, said in March that British armed forces and law enforcement officers were able to board shadow fleet vessels, in accordance with international law. The enforcement action against this vessel took place in June in international waters and was carried out in accordance with domestic and international law. In response to the interdiction of the Smyrtos, Sir Keir said: “This operation delivers yet another blow to Russia and reminds those fueling Putin’s war in Ukraine that they cannot hide. I want to pay tribute to all those involved, including our armed forces and law enforcement officers who keep this country safe 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.”

The Captain of the Smyrtos, Indian national Ajay Pant, is set to stand trial: he is charged with directly or indirectly supplying or delivering prohibited oil or oil products from Russia to a third country, in contravention of Regulation 46Z9B of the Russia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019.

The six-hour-long military operation was the first of its kind and was supported with aircraft from the Maritime Air Group (including Chinooks, a Merlin Mk4, and a Wildcat), an RAF P-8, as well as HMS Sutherland and HMS Ledbury.

The Commando team and members from the National Crime Agency were deployed onto the Smyrtos from a Leonardo AW101 (aka Merlin) Mk4, using the fast roping beam, which allows for rapid deployment from the main cabin door, a modification for the ‘Commando Merlin’.

The Commando Helicopter Force, based at RNAS Yeovilton in southern England, operates 25 Merlin Mk4/4a advanced amphibious battlefield helicopters from two squadrons, providing air support to the Royal Marines. The Force is commanded by Joint Helicopter Command and maintains a high state of readiness to deploy anywhere in the world at short notice, providing tactical mobility and aviation support from either sea or land.