Russian Tankers Sail Through English Channel, Defying Sanctions

0:00On April 10th, a sanctioned Russian tanker called Universal, plus another shadowfully vessel named Enigma, sailed right through the English Channel. This week, as courted by the Kremlin's frigate Admiral Gregorovich, they were hauling fuel, food, and spare parts straight for Putin's military ships. The Royal Navy trailed them with just one support ship, the RFA-Tie Force, but held back from any boarding. Earlier this week, on Wednesday off England's South Coast, the group passed Dover without a hitch. Universal had left the port near St. Petersburg in the last month, dodging Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian ports, then linked up with the warship, in the Baltic Sea on April 2nd. UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, Greenlit Commandos, to board these sanctioned busters last month, aiming to hit them harder. Critics like Tory leader Kimi Botanok slam him as all talk on defense, especially while he's touring the Gulf. But folks are split. Some see it as weak. Others note the real strain on Russia's ops.

1:00Defense Secretary John Healey says, the warship escort proves Britain's pressure is biting, over 200 shadowfully shifts sideline or anchored. Russian oil cash from illicit trades down by a quarter. NATO sources confirm the cargo was for frontline military use, not just oil exports. Meanwhile, this thousand-plus strong shadow fleet of aging tankers flies fake flags to skirt western sanctions funding the Ukraine war. Countries like Finland, Sweden, and Estonia are nabbing suspects in the Baltic, and the UK vows more joint moves with allies soon to choke Putin's war, chest even tighter.