Defence secretary John Healey said the reported use of a Russian warship to escort sanctioned tankers through the English Channel would suggest that UK policy is already affecting Moscow’s ability to move oil.
Speaking amid questions over Russia’s so-called shadow fleet, Healey said sanctions and warnings that vessels may be boarded are making it harder for Russia to sell oil that helps fund its war in Ukraine.
Earlier in the day, foreign secretary Yvette Cooper declined to confirm reports that a Russian warship had been escorting two sanctioned Russian ships through the English Channel.
The ships in question are understood to be among the tankers used to transport oil for sale on Russia’s behalf. The UK government recently said the armed forces have been authorised to board such vessels in British waters in an effort to stop them.
Cooper said the government had now given permission for action to be taken against the Russian shadow fleet, but stressed that any operational response would then need to be decided by the military in the proper way.
“What I can tell you is that we have given permission now for action to be taken against the Russian shadow fleet. Operational decisions then have to be taken in the right way by the military,” she said.
She also pointed to broader concerns about Russian activity beyond the maritime issue, saying there were signs not only of how the shadow fleet is operating but also of increased Russian threats across Europe, as well as to the UK.
The comments come against a backdrop of continuing tensions over sanctions enforcement and the movement of Russian oil through European waters. The UK has been stepping up pressure on vessels linked to Russia’s energy trade, with ministers arguing that disrupting the shadow fleet is part of a wider response to the war in Ukraine.
Healey’s remarks suggest the government believes its approach is already forcing Russia to adapt. If Moscow feels the need to send a warship to accompany tankers, he indicated, that would imply the policy is having an impact.
The issue is likely to remain a focus for ministers as they seek to tighten enforcement against sanctioned shipping while managing the risks of escalation at sea.
