The UK will intercept "shadow fleet" vessels passing through its waters.

Xinhua News Agency, London, March 25 (Reporter Yu Aicen) - The British government stated on the 25th that Prime Minister Starmer has approved the armed forces and law enforcement personnel to intercept vessels that are subject to UK sanctions and attempt to pass through its waters. This move is aimed at countering related actions by Russia.

The British government pointed out that several countries, including Finland, Sweden, and Estonia, have recently conducted operations in the Baltic Sea against vessels suspected of being part of Russia's "shadow fleet." The UK will collaborate with "Joint Expeditionary Force" partners to intercept the Russian "shadow fleet" and close waters to sanctioned vessels.

According to information released by the British government, the UK will conduct individual assessments of each target vessel before the operation. After a vessel is seized, the owner, operator, and crew may face criminal charges for violating UK sanctions law. Currently, the UK and its allies have imposed sanctions on 544 vessels belonging to Russia's "shadow fleet."

Western countries accuse Russia of using commercial vessels such as tankers to evade Western sanctions, referring to these commercial vessels as the "shadow fleet."