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Story summary
- The United Kingdom seized the tanker MV Smyrtos in the English Channel in June 2026.
- Over 170 sanctioned shadow-fleet vessels passed near UK waters between 1 June and 26 August 2026.
- Russian tankers rerouted after the seizure, more than doubling Channel bypasses.
- The Kremlin dispatched warships, including a Gorsk-ov frigate with hypersonic missiles, to escort tankers.
- The shadow fleet moves about 75 % of Russia’s crude oil, supporting the war economy.
