A suspected Russian shadow fleet tanker seized by British forces in the English Channel has become the centre of a landmark sanctions prosecution after an Indian national was charged over the alleged transport of prohibited Russian oil.
Ajay Pant, 38, has been charged with directly or indirectly supplying or delivering by ship Russian oil or oil products to a third country in breach of UK sanctions regulations.
He is due to appear at Southampton Magistrates’ Court as the Government launches its first UK-led criminal case following the dramatic seizure of a sanctioned vessel.
The charges come after Royal Marine commandos stormed the tanker Smyrtos in a six-hour operation during the early hours of Sunday morning, marking the first time British personnel have directly captured a sanctioned shadow fleet vessel.
The operation involved Royal Marines alongside specially trained officers from the National Crime Agency, who boarded the ship as it travelled through the Channel.
The tanker has since been formally detained under an order issued by Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander, preventing it from leaving British waters.
The vessel remains anchored off Weymouth, Dorset, under observation, alongside Royal Navy vessels including HMS Sutherland and HMS Ledbury, which supported the operation.
For the first time, Great Britain 🇬🇧 seized a Russian ship: a video of the night operation by British forces from the tanker "Smyrtos". pic.twitter.com/VxCj3dq61a
— Shaun Pinner (@ShaunPinnerUA) June 14, 2026
Ms Alexander said the seizure represented a direct strike against Russia’s ability to finance its war in Ukraine.
“Today, I took the decision to detain a sanctioned shadow fleet vessel travelling through the Channel, carrying Russian oil which helps fund Putin’s barbaric war in Ukraine,” she said.
The tanker, which sailed under the flag of Cameroon but has been described by the UK Government as “stateless”, had been linked to Moscow’s efforts to evade Western restrictions on Russian energy exports.
Around 24 Georgian and Indian crew members remain on board and are assisting investigators.
The Crown Prosecution Service confirmed the decision to prosecute Mr Pant followed an investigation by the National Crime Agency.
Joanne Jakymec, chief Crown prosecutor, said:
“The CPS has decided to prosecute Ajay Pant for breaching Russian sanctions following a National Crime Agency investigation and the seizure of the shadow oil tanker, MV Smyrtos.”
She warned that proceedings were active and urged caution over commentary that could affect the fairness of any future trial.
The seizure represents a major escalation in Britain’s efforts to target Russia’s so-called shadow fleet — a network of ageing oil tankers used by Moscow to continue exporting energy despite sanctions imposed after the invasion of Ukraine.
The fleet is believed to consist of more than 1,000 vessels operating through complex ownership structures, foreign flags and opaque trading arrangements designed to conceal their links to Russia.
For years, Western governments have accused the shadow fleet of allowing the Kremlin to maintain a crucial stream of oil revenue used to support its military campaign.
British forces have previously helped track suspected vessels, but Sunday’s operation was the first time UK personnel directly seized a sanctioned tanker.
The move is intended to send a warning to operators attempting to bypass sanctions: Russian oil may still be moving, but the risks are increasing.
Sir Keir Starmer said the operation delivered “another blow to Russia” and warned those supporting Vladimir Putin’s war effort that they could not escape scrutiny.
“I want to pay tribute to all those involved, including our armed forces and law enforcement officers who keep this country safe 24 hours a day, 365 days a year,” the Prime Minister said.
Defence Secretary Dan Jarvis praised the personnel involved, saying operations of this kind required “skill, professionalism and courage”.
“Russia relies on its shadow fleet to fund their conflict in Ukraine and our interdiction delivers a blow to Putin’s illegal war,” he said.
The seizure marks a new phase in Britain’s confrontation with Moscow — moving beyond sanctions on paper and towards direct enforcement.
For the Kremlin, the message is stark: the ships helping keep Russia’s war economy afloat are no longer guaranteed safe passage through Western waters.
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