Royal Marines board Russian shadow fleet oil tanker in English Channel

Royal Marine Commandos boarded a Russian "shadow fleet" oil tanker in the English Channel in the early hours of Sunday morning. Marines joined by National Crime Agency (NCA) officers, with the support of the RAF, intercepted and boarded the Smyrtos in a six-hour operation - the first of its kind by UK armed forces. The vessel will be held and monitored off the south coast of England as investigations continue, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) said. NCA officers arrested an Indian national, 38, on suspicion of sanctions offences under the Russia Regulations and he was taken into custody. The NCA said 24 Georgian and Indian crew remained aboard and were "assisting with the investigation". There was no immediate response from Moscow, which has previously described similar interceptions as illegal and "bordering on international piracy". Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said: "This successful operation delivers yet another blow to Russia and reminds those fuelling [Russian President Vladimir] Putin's war in Ukraine that we will not let them hide." In video footage shared by the MoD, armed personnel can be seen boarding the vessel by fast-roping from a helicopter. Further videos show them c