British special forces are being lined up to storm Russian shadow fleet vessels, The Times has reported. Elite soldiers trained to rappel on to ships from helicopters and capture their crews could target hundreds of illegal oil tankers after the government identified a new legal basis for the raids.
A defence source confirmed that options were being developed for seizures at sea, adding: “If you want to dial up the economic pressure on Russia, that looks like operators fast-roping on to illegal oil tankers.” The Special Boats Service (SBS), the Royal Navy’s answer to the Special Air Service (SAS), is likely to lead the missions, though no timeframe has been given for when they might deploy.
SBS commandos are “among the most elite and capable soldiers in the entire British military”, according to the Royal Navy, specialising in daring covert raids “that exploit the element of surprise”. Details of the preparations emerged as Britain’s most senior military chief admitted that the Ministry of Defence (MoD) does not have the money to deliver all of its military ambitions. Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Knighton’s warning came after The Express reported the department was facing a £28 billion funding shortfall over the next four years.
Moscow lashes out at Defence Secretary Healey
His comments came shortly after Moscow lashed out at John Healey, the defence secretary, for saying he would like to detain President Putin and hold him to account for war crimes. Maria Zakharova, of the Russian foreign ministry, on Monday described Healey’s remarks as the “wet dreams of British perverts.”
SBS operatives are trained to seize ships, tankers or rigs, typically by descending on to decks from modified helicopters. Like the SAS, recruits endure a gruelling selection process but are then trained with additional skills in underwater reconnaissance, demolition, canoeing and diving.
To date there are no reports of British military personnel having raided Russian shadow fleet vessels, but ministers have spent recent weeks exploring what legal options they have for the operations. UK officials believe they have found grounds for authorising soldiers to board and detain oil tankers under the Sanctions and Money Laundering Act in a move that could put hundreds of sanctioned and stateless shadow tankers on notice.
At least 107 UK-sanctioned vessels sailing under falsified state flags
Analysis by The Times found that at least 107 vessels sanctioned by the UK are sailing under falsified state flags, including ships that have been expelled from their former flag country, and some bearing the flag of nonexistent shipping registers. Under the legal mechanism identified by the government, such vessels could be prime targets for SBS raids and seizures.
Healey last week pledged to “clamp down” on the nefarious network of vessels after British forces helped the US Navy storm the Marinera, a tanker sanctioned by the US for carrying oil for Venezuela, Russia and Iran. UK spy planes and support vessels were deployed to conduct reconnaissance and provide assistance as US navy Seals fast-roped on to the deck from helicopters and took control of the ship last Wednesday.
Any future raids on Russian ships involving British special forces would probably be a joint operation involving Royal Navy warships, Royal Air Force spy planes and possible collaboration with Nordic Nato allies, another source suggested. Such an operation would be “complex” and “a big joint op”, the source said, adding: “There is a broader appetite across Europe to do more so it could be the UK contributing more to other European nations’ operations or doing something jointly. Even the Americans, who have all of the assets in the world, still requested support from us.”
To seize a vessel, the UK needs to establish that the ship is legally stateless. This could mean that it is not legitimately registered with any country, is flying a false flag or has been disavowed by the country under whose flag it is sailing.