Russia Vows Response After UK Says It Will Board Shadow Fleet Ships

A French navy officer, using intelligence provided by the UK, monitors a shadow fleet vessel in the Mediterranean Sea on Jan. 22, 2026. Etat-Major des Armees via APA UK plan to authorize the British military to board shadow fleet vessels transiting UK waters is “another deeply hostile step against Russia,” and Moscow will respond using all political, legal, and other instruments at its disposal, including asymmetric measures, the Russian embassy in London said on March 27.British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said in a March 25 statement that he had authorized military and law enforcement officers to board and detain vessels sanctioned by the UK to disrupt a network his government says ​enables Moscow to export oil despite Western sanctions.