British forces intercepted the sanctioned Russian shadow fleet tanker Smyrtos in the English Channel during a joint six-hour operation involving the National Crime Agency and the Royal Navy.Prime Minister Keir Starmer authorized the mission to disrupt Russian oil financing for the war in Ukraine, marking the first time the United Kingdom has independently seized a shadow fleet vessel.The vessel is now being held under surveillance off the southern coast of England as authorities assess potential environmental and security risks.This strategic interdiction contributes to wider efforts by the United Kingdom to enforce sanctions against the hundreds of ships currently facilitating Russian oil exports.