UK moves to board sanctioned shadow fleet tankers

The UK government has said British military and law enforcement officers will be able to interdict vessels sanctioned by the UK while they transit through UK waters, widening pressure on Russia’s shadow fleet.
The Prime Minister’s Office, the Ministry of Defence and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer published the announcement on 25 March.
According to the government statement, the Prime Minister agreed that UK Armed Forces and law enforcement officers will now be able "to interdict vessels that have been sanctioned by the UK and are transiting through UK waters.”
The statement added that the Royal Navy has recently supported allies by monitoring and tracking several shadow fleet ships to enable interdiction in European and Mediterranean waters.
The government said the measure would close UK waters, including the Channel, to sanctioned vessels and would force operators either to take longer routes or face detention by British forces.
It also said each target ship would be considered individually by law enforcement, military and energy market specialists before a recommendation is made to ministers and an operation is carried out.
“Putin is rubbing his hands at the war in the Middle East because he thinks higher oil prices will let him line his pockets. That’s why we’re going after his shadow fleet even harder, not just keeping Britain safe but starving Putin’s war machine of the dirty profits that fund his barbaric campaign in Ukraine,” the UK Prime Minister said. 
"He and his cronies should be in no doubt, we will always defend our sovereignty and stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes.”