Ask Onix
UK waters see 238 journeys by Russian 'shadow fleet' since March
Nearly 200 Russian-owned vessels under UK sanctions have sailed through British waters in the seven weeks since Prime Minister Keir Starmer vowed to intercept them, an investigation by BBC Verify reveals.
No boardings despite government threats
Starmer announced on 25 March that British armed forces had been authorised to board sanctioned ships traversing UK waters. However, tracking data shows 184 vessels made 238 passages through the UK's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) since then, with no public confirmation of any interceptions.
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) stated it is "disrupting and deterring" the shadow fleet but provided no specifics. Former Royal Navy commander Tom Sharpe criticised the lack of action as "pathetic," questioning the UK's maritime resolve.
Shadow fleet evades sanctions through obscure ownership
Russia operates a "shadow fleet" of tankers with opaque ownership to bypass international sanctions on its oil exports. All 184 vessels identified by BBC Verify appear on the UK Foreign Office's sanctions list, barring them from UK ports and prohibiting British entities from offering financial or insurance services to them.
The UK government aims to curb Russia's oil revenues to weaken funding for its war in Ukraine. Of the tracked ships, 173 were oil tankers, 10 carried liquefied natural gas (LNG), and one was a multipurpose offshore vessel, according to MarineTraffic data.
Legal hurdles and Russian escorts complicate interceptions
Legal constraints may hinder the UK's ability to board and seize vessels. Shipping lawyer James M Turner KC explained that, under international law, ships flying another country's flag are generally protected from seizure unless they are falsely flagged or flagless.
"The position with very few exceptions is that you can't seize vessels that are flying the flag of another country. This is a case where rhetoric and reality do not coincide."
James M Turner KC, Quadrant Chambers
Satellite imagery analysed by BBC Verify shows one sanctioned tanker, the Universal, was escorted by a Russian warship-likely the frigate Admiral Grigorovich-while transiting the English Channel on 8 April. King's College London professor Alessio Patalano suggested the escort indicated the UK was "keeping the Russians under pressure."
Kremlin warns of 'consequences' as ships alter routes
The Kremlin condemned the UK's threats to detain Russian vessels as a "deeply hostile step" with potential repercussions. Meanwhile, tracking data reveals some ships, including the oil tanker Yi Tong, have altered their routes to avoid UK waters.
The Yi Tong, registered to a Chinese company, previously sailed through the English Channel but recently took a longer detour around Ireland and northern Scotland. Patalano noted the rerouting suggests the UK's policy is having an impact, though it also increases costs and travel time for operators.
MoD vague on 'disruption' tactics
When asked if any sanctioned vessels had been intercepted since 25 March, the MoD did not directly respond. It stated that over 700 suspected vessels had been "challenged" since October 2024 but declined to clarify what this entailed, citing operational security.
Sharpe argued the UK lacks a "maritime spine," criticising the country's risk-averse and poorly coordinated approach to naval operations.
