UK defends seizing shadow fleet tanker after Putin threat - BBC News

The UK government says it is "disrupting and deterring shadow fleet vessels" in accordance with the law.

Image source, Ministry of DefenceImage caption, Royal Marine Commandos were involved in the operation to seize the MT Smyrtos

The UK government has defended its seizure of a Russian "shadow fleet" oil tanker in the English Channel, after Russian President Vladimir Putin threatened to "respond in kind".

The Smyrtos has been anchored off Weymouth after Royal Marines Commandos intercepted and boarded the vessel in a first-of-its-kind operation to disrupt the sanctioned tanker in June.

The vessel's captain, Ajay Pant, has been charged with breaching Russian sanctions, accused of directly or indirectly supplying or delivering prohibited Russian oil.

Overseeing Russian navy drills in the Pacific Ocean, Putin scolded Western countries for "seizing our vessels", branding such action "nothing other than piracy and banditry".