In brief
British forces seized the unmanned tanker Smyrtos early Sunday, compelling the UK to press for stricter enforcement of sanctions on sanctioned vessels. Three days later, the Russian‑flagged Forwarder slipped into the English Channel, marking the first shadow fleet entry since the Smyrtos operation. Tracking data shows Forwarder left Primorsk on 12 June carrying crude, heading south to Dongying, China, and possibly escorted by the Russian frigate Admiral Grigorovich. After the Smyrtos seizure, many sanctioned tankers changed course to avoid the Channel, but Forwarder’s appearance signals a new risk for NATO notice.
British forces boarded the un‑flagged tanker Smyrtos early Sunday, seizing the vessel and marking a turning point in the enforcement of sanctions against Russian oil trafficking.
Three days later, a Russian‑flagged ship known as Forwarder entered the English Channel on Wednesday evening, the first shadow fleet vessel to do so since the Smyrtos operation.
Tracking data from ship‑monitoring services shows Forwarder departed the Russian port of Primorsk on 12 June, loaded with crude oil, and sailed south toward Dongying port in China. The vessel appears to be under Russian flag with no indication of a false flag.
The UK Ministry of Defence is investigating the incident; early reports suggest a Royal Navy warship, HMS Tyne, was operating near Forwarder’s location.
Following the Smyrtos seizure, many sanctioned tankers altered course to avoid the English Channel, often taking a longer route via the west coast of Ireland. Forwarder’s passage signals a new risk for Western naval attention to the shadow fleet.
Admiral Grigorovich, a Russian frigate, has been reported to escort sanctioned oil tankers. The fringing fleet continues to supply a substantial share—about 75 %—of Russia’s sanctioned oil exports, a lifeline increasingly contested by NATO.
While the UK has asserted legal authority to board vessels like Smyrtos, experts caution that boarding a vessel flagged by Russia without a false flag could be a significant escalation.
Sources confirm that the Forwarder is the second sanction‑listed Russian tanker to operate in the English Channel in a week. The Ministry of Defence has asked for a comment on the ship’s presence.
