The leader of the Labour Party has cautioned Vladimir Putin about the UK’s close surveillance of Russian activities in British waters following the appearance of a suspicious vessel in the Channel.
Anna Turley, the Labour Party chair, expressed admiration for Keir Starmer’s collaboration with international partners in addressing such issues. Tracking data revealed the presence of an oil tanker named Tavian heading towards Finland, located 20 miles north of Guernsey in the early morning.
Tavian is believed to be linked to Vladimir Putin’s covert fleet, utilized to circumvent restrictions on Russian oil trading. Ms. Turley emphasized the government’s vigilance in monitoring maritime activities and ensuring compliance with international laws to uphold citizen safety.
The incident occurred shortly after the UK’s assistance to the US in intercepting a Russian-flagged tanker in the North Atlantic. Scottish Secretary Douglas Alexander identified the seized vessel, Marinera, as part of the clandestine fleet supporting Russia’s operations in Ukraine.
Collaboration with allies, including the US, was deemed essential by Mr. Alexander to counter Russian sanctions evasion attempts. British RAF surveillance aircraft and the naval supply ship RFA Tideforce contributed to the operation without direct involvement in boarding the vessel.
The vessel, previously known as Bella 1 and associated with Venezuela, was seized in the waters between Iceland and Scotland. The US military’s European Command acknowledged the UK’s support in social media posts following the successful operation.
Mr. Alexander stressed the importance of disrupting the financial backing of Russia’s military actions through international cooperation. Efforts to prevent illegal financing of conflicts, as seen in Ukraine and other regions, were highlighted as a shared priority among the UK and its allies.