The Russian 'shadow fleet' is back in the English Channel, as the sanctioned tanker Forwarder sailed through the waterway on Wednesday evening. This marks the first such transit by a Russian-flagged vessel since UK forces successfully intercepted and boarded the Smyrtos last Sunday.
The Forwarder, which departed the Russian export hub of Primorsk on June 12, is currently broadcasting its destination as Dongying, China. This vessel is no stranger to scrutiny; it has been sanctioned by the UK, US, and EU, and has changed its name twice since being accused of smuggling Russian oil.
While the Royal Navy’s HMS Tyne was spotted operating in the vicinity, analysts suggest that intercepting the Forwarder presents a significantly higher geopolitical hurdle than the Smyrtos.
Because the Forwarder is officially Russian-flagged, unlike the Smyrtos—which was sailing without a valid registration—any attempt to board it would be viewed as a direct confrontation with Moscow.
While the Kremlin continues to rely on a clandestine fleet of over 700 aging tankers to bypass Western sanctions and fund its war machine, the question remains whether the British government has the stomach to escalate beyond the boarding of stateless vessels.
For now, the Forwarder continues its journey, serving as a stark reminder of the Kremlin's ongoing efforts to circumvent international law.
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