Ask Onix
Sanctioned Russian tankers defy UK enforcement in English Channel
Forty-two oil tankers blacklisted by the UK for supporting Russia's war in Ukraine have traversed the English Channel this month, despite government assurances that such vessels could be detained.
Legal clearance fails to halt shadow fleet
Earlier in January, the UK government secured legal confirmation that sanctioned tankers could be boarded and seized under the Sanctions and Money Act 2018. Yet tracking data from BBC Verify shows the vessels continued to pass through the Channel unchallenged after the advice was issued.
Among them was the Sofos, sanctioned by the UK Foreign Office in May 2025. The tanker sailed from Venezuela to the Channel before reaching waters near St Petersburg. Ship-tracking records reveal it loaded Russian oil in mid-November, then traveled to Turkey and Venezuela, where it disabled its transponder. Satellite imagery placed it at Venezuela's Jose oil terminal on December 22-23 before its signal reappeared outside Venezuelan waters on December 26.
Tactics to evade detection
The Nasledie, a 20-year-old tanker also sanctioned in May 2025, entered the Channel this month carrying approximately 100,000 tonnes of Urals crude. Analyst Anna Zhminko of Vortexa noted the vessel has operated within Russia's shadow fleet since 2023. In November, it underwent a rebrand, changing its name from Blint and switching to a Russian registry while falsely flying the Comoros flag.
Shadow fleet vessels routinely employ evasion tactics, including flying false flags, disabling tracking systems, and broadcasting misleading locations. Zhminko told BBC Verify that once tankers engage in direct Russian port calls, they abandon compliance concerns entirely.
Political pressure mounts for action
Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper declared in January that the UK was prepared to "tighten the chokehold" on Russia through "assertive actions" against shadow fleet vessels. While British forces assisted the US in seizing a tanker near Iceland earlier this month and supported France in the Mediterranean on Thursday, no independent UK seizures have occurred.
Dame Emily Thornberry, chair of Parliament's Foreign Affairs Select Committee, expressed disappointment over the lack of interceptions. "To properly support Ukraine, sanctions must be enforced-not just written on paper," she said.
"It's not that hard to project force 12 miles off the Straits of Dover. It's not that difficult to board a tanker."
Mike Martin, Liberal Democrat MP and former British Army officer
Russia warns of retaliation
Moscow has responded to UK threats with defiance. On January 20, The Times reported a Russian warship escorted the sanctioned tanker General Skobelev through the Channel. Earlier, Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova warned that detaining tankers would be viewed as a violation of international law and an attack on Russian interests.
Economic lifeline for Kremlin
The shadow fleet enables Russia to bypass Western embargoes, moving an estimated $87-100 billion in oil annually, according to the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Vaibhav Raghunandan of the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air noted that 68% of Russian crude was transported by sanctioned tankers in December 2025.
Martin emphasized the urgency of disrupting these operations, arguing that Russia's war in Ukraine hinges on the revenue generated by shadow fleet oil sales. "The conflict will only end when Russia's economy collapses," he said. "A key lever is knocking out oil sales through the shadow fleet."
Enforcement challenges persist
One vessel, the Arcusat-previously sanctioned by the US as the Tia-passed through the Channel on January 8 before being intercepted by German authorities and turned away. The tanker had obtained a new IMO number in 2024, a rare move as the unique identifier is meant to remain with a vessel for life.
A Ministry of Defence spokesperson told BBC Verify that countering the shadow fleet remains a priority, stating, "Alongside our allies, we are stepping up our response to shadow vessels-and will continue to do so."
