// BBC WORLD NEWS — MONDO
UK defends seizing shadow fleet tanker after Putin threat
Royal Marine Commandos were involved in the operation to seize the MT Smyrtos
The UK government has defended its seizure of a Russian "shadow fleet" oil tanker in the English Channel, after Russian President Vladimir Putin threatened to "respond in kind".
The Smyrtos has been anchored off Weymouth after Royal Marines Commandos intercepted and boarded the vessel in a first-of-its-kind operation to disrupt the sanctioned tanker in June.
The vessel's captain, Ajay Pant, has been charged with breaching Russian sanctions, accused of directly or indirectly supplying or delivering prohibited Russian oil.
Overseeing Russian navy drills in the Pacific Ocean, Putin scolded Western countries for "seizing our vessels", branding such action "nothing other than piracy and banditry".
Western nations allege Russia has been operating a "shadow fleet" of hundreds of vessels to evade international sanctions imposed on its oil exports.
These vessels stand accused of using complex ownership structures and various tactics to obscure the origin of their cargo, masking their link to Russia.
The UK Ministry of Defence says Russia has a fleet of more than 700 vessels, responsible for carrying 75% of the country's sanctioned oil.
This oil is a "critical lifeline for the Kremlin" in "sustaining Russia's illegal war" in Ukraine, the MoD says.
On Wednesday, Putin warned Western countries against seizing more of these tankers, saying: "If these plans are put into practice, we will have to respond in kind.