A Russian vessel, dubbed a ‘zombie’ ship, has been sighted navigating the English Channel shortly after British and US forces intercepted a ship suspected of violating sanctions. The tanker, known as Tavian, is currently en route to Finland, around 20 miles north of Guernsey, based on ship tracking information. Tavian is believed to be associated with Vladimir Putin’s ‘shadow fleet’ and is allegedly used to circumvent restrictions on Russian oil trade, being blacklisted by the US in 2024.
Last month, the same ship was monitored passing through the Baltic Sea near the German coastline, marking the first instance of a Russian vessel attempting this route. This development follows a statement from a member of Keir Starmer’s cabinet affirming Britain’s readiness to support the bold US operation targeting a Russian-flagged tanker in the North Atlantic. The vessel in question, Marinera, is described as part of the clandestine fleet financing Russia’s activities in Ukraine.
The UK, in collaboration with international allies such as the US, is actively countering Russian attempts to evade sanctions aiding the conflict in Ukraine. Recent efforts involved RAF surveillance aircraft and the naval supply ship, RFA Tideforce, contributing to the mission to seize the vessel in the Atlantic. Notably, US special operations aircraft landed in Scotland before proceeding with the operation further north, with UK personnel not directly involved in the boarding.
The vessel, previously named Bella 1 and linked to Venezuela, was apprehended as it moved northeast between Iceland and Scotland. Following the successful operation, the US military’s European Command expressed gratitude to the UK for its steadfast support. Speaking about the operation, Douglas Alexander emphasized the vessel’s status as a stateless entity under international law, having switched off its transponders, underscoring its role in financing Russia’s activities in Ukraine.
Alexander stressed the UK’s commitment to combatting illegal financing supporting conflicts globally, stating the importance of collaboration with allies to counter Russian sanction-busting efforts. Efforts are ongoing to disrupt channels of finance fueling Putin’s military actions.