The United Kingdom is tightening measures against Russia's "ghost fleet".

The British Army will have the authority to intercept and confiscate sanctioned Russian vessels that enter the territorial waters of the United Kingdom, according to an official statement from Downing Street.

This measure is part of a broader strategy to limit Russia's ability to circumvent international sanctions imposed after the invasion of Ukraine in 2022. So far, British authorities have sanctioned 544 vessels suspected of being part of the so-called "phantom fleet", which includes old tankers used for transporting Russian oil. Prime Minister Keir Starmer will discuss these measures at the Common Expeditionary Force summit in Helsinki. The United Kingdom's decision comes in a complicated international context, in which the United States has announced a temporary easing of some restrictions on Russian oil. British authorities emphasize that, following interventions, criminal proceedings may be initiated against the owners and operators of the sanctioned vessels.