In a landmark operation marking a new phase of UK enforcement of Russian sanctions, the captain of a Russian shadow fleet oil tanker intercepted by Royal Marine Commandos in the English Channel has been formally charged with sanctions violations, Britain’s National Crime Agency (NCA) has confirmed.
Thirty-eight-year-old Ajay Pant, an Indian national serving as the vessel’s master, is scheduled to make his first court appearance at Southampton Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday. The 24 other crew members on board the tanker, identified as the MV Smyrtos, remain on the vessel as it is detained in waters off the coast of Weymouth. According to the NCA, Pant faces charges of violating Regulation 46Z9B of the 2019 Russia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations, for allegedly transporting prohibited Russian crude oil or petroleum products to a third country via ship, in direct contravention of UK sanctions measures.
Sunday’s interception unfolded over six hours, with elite commandos fast-roping onto the deck of the tanker from a military helicopter, supported by coverage from the Royal Air Force. UK defense officials confirmed this operation is the first of its magnitude ever conducted by British armed forces to enforce sanctions on Russian shadow fleet vessels. Earlier on Monday, UK Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander issued a formal legal order barring the MV Smyrtos from departing UK territorial waters, cementing the detention of the vessel.
Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the Kremlin has relied on a network of hundreds of unregistered or under-documented oil tankers collectively referred to as the ‘shadow fleet’ to continue exporting crude and oil products in violation of Western sanctions. To date, the UK has sanctioned more than 500 of these vessels. In March, newly elected Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer announced a policy shift that formally authorized British armed forces to board sanctioned ships transiting UK territorial waters, clearing the way for Sunday’s operation.
Addressing the House of Commons on Monday, UK Defence Secretary Dan Jarvis emphasized that the interception sends an unambiguous message to Moscow: the United Kingdom and its Western allies have both the capability and the willingness to take direct action against components of Russia’s war economy. ‘Sanctioned oil is bankrolling Putin’s brutal war in Ukraine. Every barrel sold helps fund the missiles and drones used to kill Ukrainians in their home, destroy their infrastructure and break their will,’ Jarvis told lawmakers.
The Defence Secretary stressed that while the UK has no intention of provoking unnecessary escalation with Russia, it will consistently take all required measures to uphold its sanctions regime. He also confirmed that the detained crew members, who hold Georgian and Indian citizenship, are currently cooperating with NCA investigations into the vessel’s activities.