British forces on Sunday intercepted a sanctioned oil tanker belonging to Russia¡¯s shadow fleet in the English Channel, the defense ministry said.

The six-hour operation in the early hours was supported by aircraft, including Chinook helicopters, and navy vessels such as the frigate HMS Sutherland.

¡°In the first U.K.-led operation of its kind, the vessel SMYRTOS was boarded by Royal Marine Commandos and specially trained law enforcement officers from the National Crime Agency, despite Russia¡¯s best efforts to evade sanctions and continue fueling its barbaric war with Ukraine,¡± the ministry statement said.