The leader of the Labour Party has issued a warning to Vladimir Putin, stating that the UK Government is closely monitoring all of Russia’s activities in British waters following the detection of a mysterious vessel in the Channel.
Anna Turley emphasized that Keir Starmer is actively collaborating with international partners to address the situation. A vessel identified as Tavian was observed heading towards Finland, located 20 miles north of Guernsey, based on maritime tracking data. Tavian is suspected to be associated with Vladimir Putin’s ‘shadow fleet’ used for circumventing limitations on Russian oil trading.
In an interview with Sky News, Labour Party chair Ms. Turley commended Keir Starmer’s efforts on the global stage, highlighting the government’s vigilance over the maritime activities near the UK. She expressed pride in the leadership displayed internationally and emphasized the commitment to upholding international laws and ensuring the safety of citizens by monitoring Russia’s actions in the region.
The UK’s support to the United States in seizing a Russian-flagged tanker in the North Atlantic came shortly after the aforementioned incident. Scottish Secretary Douglas Alexander noted that the vessel, Marinera, was linked to funding Russia’s operations in Ukraine and was part of the covert fleet. Cooperation with allies, such as the US, was deemed essential in countering Russian attempts to evade sanctions.
During the operation, RAF surveillance aircraft and the naval supply ship, RFA Tideforce, provided assistance in capturing the vessel. The US special operations aircraft participated in the operation, landing in the Scottish Highlands before proceeding northward. Defence Secretary John Healey confirmed that British personnel were not involved in the boarding process.
The vessel, previously known as Bella 1 and linked to Venezuela, was intercepted as it sailed through the waters between Iceland and Scotland. Following the successful operation, the US military’s European Command expressed gratitude to the UK for its steadfast support in the mission.
Mr. Alexander, speaking on BBC Radio Scotland, highlighted the vessel’s status as a stateless entity under international law and its attempt to conceal its location by turning off transponders. He stressed the UK’s commitment to preventing illegal funding of conflicts, terrorism, and instability, supporting the collaborative efforts with allies to counter Russian sanctions avoidance tactics.
Efforts to disrupt the financial channels supporting Russia’s military actions remain ongoing, with a focus on dismantling the funding sources for Putin’s military endeavors.