A vessel suspected to be part of Vladimir Putin’s clandestine fleet, known as the Tavian, has been detected sailing in the English Channel shortly after British and US forces intercepted a ship for violating sanctions. The oil tanker is currently navigating approximately 20 miles north of Guernsey en route to Finland, as per ship tracking information. Tavian is believed to be involved in circumventing restrictions on Russian oil trade and was sanctioned by the US in 2024.
In a recent development, the Tavian was observed passing through the Baltic Sea near the German coast, marking the first instance of a Russian vessel attempting this route. This incident follows a statement from a member of Keir Starmer’s cabinet, Douglas Alexander, expressing the UK’s support for the US operation targeting a Russian-flagged tanker in the North Atlantic. The intercepted ship, Marinera, is allegedly part of the covert fleet financing Russia’s activities in Ukraine.
Alexander emphasized the importance of collaborating with international partners like the US to combat Russian sanctions evasion, which contributes to the conflict in Ukraine. The UK provided assistance through RAF surveillance aircraft and the naval supply ship RFA Tideforce during the operation to apprehend the vessel.
Moreover, the Venezuelan-linked ship, previously known as the Bella 1, was seized while traveling northeast between Iceland and Scotland. Following the successful operation, the US military’s European Command acknowledged the UK’s unwavering support in a social media post.
Reflecting on the operation, Alexander highlighted the vessel’s status as stateless under international law and its disabling of transponders. He stressed the need to prevent illegal financing of conflicts, stating that the UK’s national interest lies in curbing such activities, including those supporting Russia’s war efforts.
Authorities are actively working to disrupt the financial channels backing Putin’s military actions, with ongoing efforts to prevent and address Russian attempts at sanction violations.