UK to Deploy Seaborne Drone Fleet to Seize Russian-Linked Oil Tankers
Since 2022, London has prohibited imports of Russian crude and petroleum products, along with related shipping, insurance, and financing, sanctioning more than 500 vessels in total.
Despite these restrictions, Moscow has reportedly exported 550 million tonnes of oil legally through the English Channel, valued at an estimated $326 billion. The outlet described the sanctions as “failing to bite.” Meanwhile, media reported that around 40% of diesel-grade petroleum products imported by the UK from India and Türkiye over the past four years can be traced back to Russian oil.
The Royal Navy has drafted plans for a command hub to oversee a fleet of remotely operated unmanned vessels in the North Sea. These drones would gather evidence of “illicit activities” by tankers traveling to and from Russian ports, potentially paving the way for the vessels’ seizure in the English Channel.
Under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, which guarantees freedom of navigation, Western nations currently lack a clear legal framework to enforce sanctions against cargo on the open seas.
Nonetheless, two tankers have already been seized this year: the Marinera by the US with UK support in the North Atlantic, and the Grinch by France in the Mediterranean. British Defense Secretary John Healey confirmed that the two allies were coordinating efforts to detain additional vessels.
Media highlighted a major financial obstacle: the high cost of holding seized tankers. To mitigate expenses, London is reportedly considering selling the oil from impounded ships.
Russian authorities have repeatedly condemned tanker seizures as a “blatant violation” of international maritime law. Last October, President Vladimir Putin described France’s detention of a vessel in neutral waters as “piracy.” Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova previously said piracy was “one of the English traditions,” noting that historically pirates were forbidden to attack English ships but were allowed to plunder rival vessels.
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