In brief
The Forwarder, a Russian‑flagged tanker involved in the shadow fleet, slipped into the English Channel on Wednesday evening after leaving port in Primorsk on June 12. Ship‑tracking data shows it headed south toward China’s Dongying port while HMS Tyne operated nearby, hinting at possible UK monitoring. Official statements from the UK Ministry of Defence are cautious, citing operational security. Experts warn that boarding the vessel would be a significant escalation, and the tanker is still under foreign sanctions. The incident follows the boarding of the Smyrtos, which was seized by Royal Marines for breaching sanctions and flag regulations.
A Russian-flagged tanker named Forwarder has entered the English Channel on Wednesday evening, the first time since UK forces seized the Smyrtos on Sunday morning. Ship‑tracking data shows the vessel left port in Primorsk on 12 June after loading oil and now sails south, broadcasting its final destination as China’s Dongying port.
The “shadow fleet” is a clandestine set of ageing tankers used by Russia to sidestep Western sanctions on oil exports. According to the Ministry of Defence, a Royal Navy warship, HMS Tyne, operated in the area near the tanker’s location, suggesting UK monitoring.
Despite being sanctioned by the UK, US, and EU in 2025, Forwarder has changed its name twice after being accused of smuggling oil from Russia. The vessel’s flag is Russian, and the MoD said it would not comment publicly to avoid limiting its ability to take action against such ships.
A NATO official noted that the Russian frigate Admiral Grigorovich has been assigned to escort these tankers and had recently fired warning shots at a British yacht in the Channel. However, there is no clear evidence that Grigorovich is accompanying the Forwarder.
Following the Smyrtos incident, many sanctioned tankers altered their courses to avoid the English Channel, with reports indicating nearly 200 shadow‑fleet ships have passed through the waterway since the UK announced it would begin intercepting some vessels. In at least 94 instances, these ships briefly crossed into UK territorial waters.
The situation remains fluid; experts warn that boarding a Russian-flagged vessel could be a step up in escalation, and the UK or other Western countries may refrain from direct intervention due to legal and policy complexities.
