Armed Forces tipped to follow US military's lead and board shadow fleet vessels

The next time we see a Russian tanker being intercepted, will it be Royal Marines fast-roping onto the deck?

Last week, UK military bases, RAF P-8 Poseidon surveillance aircraft and the Royal Navy's RFA Tideforce were used to support an American operation to detain the Russian-flagged Marinera tanker.

Defence Secretary John Healey stressed no UK troops took part in that boarding.

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UK's mission to deter, disrupt and degrade

But Mr Healey said the UK was stepping up its response to the Russian shadow fleet and "deterring, disrupting and degrading" it was a priority for the Government.

So could last week's support to the US have been a bit of a dress rehearsal for a UK-led operation?

Since Ukraine, Russia's shadow fleet of ageing tankers – with murky ownership and often flying false flags – has kept oil moving through routes like the English Channel.

Sanctions working – to an extent

Defence sources claim sanctions against the shadow fleet by the UK and its partners have forced 200 ships off the seas, almost half Russia's overall capacity.

But so far the UK has not physically detained any of these ships and the remaining vessels are still providing Russia with lucrative and crucial funds for its war machine.

What has changed now is that – according to the BBC – the Government believes it has identified a legal basis that could allow Armed Forces personnel to board and detain suspect vessels.

That would give those oil sanctions fresh teeth.