Tanker's seizure strikes a blow to Putin, Jarvis says in first speech to Parliament in new role
The Armed Forces' boarding operation has dealt a blow to Russia, the Defence Secretary has said, after the news that Royal Marines and National Crime Agency officers seized the Smyrtos in the English Channel over the weekend.
Dan Jarvis, a former major in the Parachute Regiment, also told the House of Commons in his maiden speech in the role that the UK has sanctioned more than 550 Russian shadow fleet vessels.
Since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Moscow's shadow fleet, with murky ownership and often flying false flags, has kept oil moving through global trade routes.
Sanctioned oil helps drive Russian war effort
Mr Jarvis, who deployed on operations in Northern Ireland and Afghanistan prior to entering Westminster, said that more than 700 vessels are utilised to transport roughly 40% of Russian oil.
Close to 200 Russian vessels have needed to drop anchor in light of the operations by the UK and its allies.
"We know who suffers from the shadow fleet," he said. "Sanctioned oil is bankrolling [Russian president Vladimir] Putin's brutal war in Ukraine.
"Every barrel sold helps fund the missiles and drones used to kill Ukrainians in their homes, destroy their infrastructure and break their will."
The operation's consequences
The UK had sanctioned the vessel, and she was thought to be moving sanctioned Russian oil.
Following the operation, a 38-year-old Indian national was arrested on suspicion of alleged sanctions offences, while the other 24 crew members have stayed on board and are helping the National Crime Agency.
A criminal investigation is currently underway, and details will come to light in due course.
Smyrtos is being held beyond port limits at Weymouth, according to the Defence Secretary.
A clear signal to the Kremlin
"[The] operation sends a clear signal to Russia that the UK and its allies can – and will – act against the Russian war machine," Mr Jarvis added.
"We will use every measure available to prevent the trade in sanctioned goods."
Later this week, the Defence Secretary will co-chair a meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group at Nato Headquarters in Brussels.
In March, the Prime Minister announced that British forces and law enforcement officers would be able to halt, board and detain sanctioned vessels from Russia's shadow fleet if they sail through UK waters.
London has previously supported allies' operations against the Russian shadow fleet, including the French operation against the tanker Grinch in January.
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