British forces collaborate with the French Navy to intercept and seize the MV Deyna, a Russian ‘shadow fleet’ oil tanker suspected of using a false flag in the Mediterranean. These vessels transport Russian oil and goods globally to bypass sanctions imposed after the invasion of Ukraine.
The French Navy halts the Deyna during the operation. UK Defence Secretary John Healey states: “Disrupting, deterring, and degrading Russia’s shadow fleet—and starving Putin’s war machine of funds—is a priority for this Government. We will continue to take action alongside our allies. As threats increase and demands on defence rise, I am proud of the support our UK armed forces provided to this French operation, keeping Britain safe at home as we support Ukraine, deter Russia, and deliver defensive operations in the Middle East.”
French President Emmanuel Macron declares: “The war involving Iran will not deflect France from its support for Ukraine, where Russia’s war of aggression continues unabated. These vessels, which evade international sanctions and violate the law of the sea, are profiteers of war. They line their pockets while helping finance Russia’s war effort. We will not allow it.”
Patrol boat HMS Cutlass tracks the Deyna and assists the French team with surveillance and imagery near the Strait of Gibraltar. The UK and European Union sanction the Deyna for its role in shipping Russian oil, highlighting growing allied cooperation against such vessels.
Recent Allied Seizures
In January, British forces support the US seizure of the oil tanker Marinera, previously known as Bella-1, in the Atlantic. RAF aircraft and the British supply ship RFA Tideforce aid the capture of the Russian-flagged vessel.
That same month, Royal Navy patrol boat HMS Dagger assists France in seizing the sanctioned ship Grinch in the western Mediterranean, monitoring it through the Strait of Gibraltar.
UK officials urge allies to increase seizures of shadow fleet vessels. The Defence Secretary and Attorney General recently meet international counterparts to explore military and legal strategies.
Challenges in UK Naval Readiness
British forces have not yet boarded a sanctioned vessel independently. Critics highlight Royal Navy vulnerabilities amid rising tensions. As of March 12, four of the UK’s seven mine countermeasures vessels (MCMVs) remain out of service, with the other three stationed domestically, including duties protecting nuclear submarine bases. Redeploying one to the Gulf would require five weeks.
HMS Bangor undergoes major structural repairs in the UK after a collision in Bahrain in early 2024 and will not return to service until late April 2026.
Defence analyst Francis Tusa notes: “When the Iran-Iraq tanker war broke out in the late 1980s, the USA turned to the UK for our mine countermeasures expertise, to counter the Iranian use of sea mines. From that time on, there have normally been four advanced mine countermeasures vessels (MCMVs) deployed in Bahrain, often backed up by a support vessel. The Royal Navy now does not have enough MCMVs to cover tasks like protection of the nuclear deterrent, and then to deploy to predictable threats such as in the Gulf. As a country, the UK is being found sadly wanting as regards naval capabilities.”
Reports also criticize delays in HMS Dragon’s routine maintenance as Middle East conflicts intensify. Concerns escalate after an Iranian drone from Lebanon strikes RAF Akrotiri, questioning local air defenses.
