The UK government is reportedly planning to deploy its military to seize vessels suspected of being part of a “shadow fleet” allegedly used by Moscow to circumvent Western sanctions. According to a report by the BBC, the British government believes it has found a legal way to target these vessels in UK waters. The move is expected to affect not only Russia but also Iran and Venezuela, which the UK claims use third-party vessels to evade sanctions.
The UK’s 2018 Sanctions and Money Laundering Act grants the government the power to detain “specified ships” in its territorial waters or prevent them from entering. This legislation can impact vessels passing through the English Channel, one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes. However, it does not explicitly mention the use of military force.
The BBC reports that it is unclear when the UK could launch an operation targeting a foreign vessel. So far, the British military has not boarded any vessels, although the UK did assist the US in seizing the ‘Marinera’ oil tanker in international waters northwest of Scotland last week. Moscow condemned the seizure as a gross violation of international rules.
Western governments have imposed significant sanctions on Russia since the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in 2022, targeting its oil trade and alleged “shadow fleet.” The UK has imposed restrictions on over 500 suspected “shadow fleet” vessels and has imported oil products from refineries processing Russian crude worth £3 billion between 2022 and the second quarter of 2025. This generated £510 million in revenue for Moscow.
The UK’s planned move is part of a broader effort to enforce sanctions and prevent the circumvention of restrictions. The use of military force to seize vessels is a significant escalation, and it remains to be seen how this will play out in practice. The international community will be watching closely to see how this development affects global shipping lanes and the enforcement of sanctions.
