Kathrine Frich
En klassisk sanktionsrunda och Storbritannien tittar noga
En klassisk sanktionsrunda och Storbritannien tittar noga
Right Off UK’s Doorstep
Russia has escalated tensions in the English Channel by sending a warship to escort vessels believed to be dodging Western sanctions.
The Steregushchy-class corvette Boykiy was spotted shadowing foreign-flagged tankers linked to Moscow, right off the UK’s maritime doorstep.
British-Sanctioned Ships Get Armed Russian Escorts
Observers say the move was deliberate, with Russian naval muscle now protecting vessels under Western sanctions.
Among them was the Selva, a Panama-flagged tanker reportedly blacklisted by Britain. The UK sees this as a clear provocation by the Kremlin.
Russian Oil Ships Change Flags to Evade Watchdogs
One such vessel, the Sierra, also known as Suvorovsky Prospect, has changed its registered flag multiple times, recently switching to Palau after being sanctioned by the UK and EU.
These tactics are typical of what’s been dubbed the Kremlin’s “shadow fleet.”
The ‘Boykiy’ Makes Its Presence Known
The 343-foot Boykiy is no ordinary escort. Armed and stealthy, this Russian Navy corvette was built for coastal defense, but its presence in the busy Channel marks a significant ramp-up in Russia’s maritime signalling to the West.
Sanctioned Tankers Sailing Under Flags of Convenience
Experts say many of these shadow fleet ships adopt the flags of smaller, distant nations to obscure their real ownership and avoid detection.
It’s a classic sanctions dodge, and the UK is watching closely.
Oil Smuggling or State Strategy?
This development forces the UK and its allies to rethink how they police their waters.
Are these just rogue tankers sneaking through? Or is this a calculated state-led strategy to test European resolve?
Similar Moves in Baltic Waters
Finland’s defence minister, Antti Häkkänen, confirmed similar operations in the Gulf of Finland, where Russian military escorts now shadow tanker movements.
”This is a completely new development,” he warned, as tensions build on NATO’s northern flank.