UK, Allies Board Russian Shadow Fleet

0:00I'm Cory with the story. That's your Europe News Today update, AI-powered and always on. Britain's military has gotten approval to board Russian shadow fleet ships dodging sanctions as they passed through UK waters. Prime Minister Kierstarmer directed the armed forces and police to intercept these vessels, which help Russia move oil despite restrictions. This comes after the Royal Navy, aided allies in tracking similar ships for actions in European and Mediterranean areas. Across Europe, countries are stepping up pressure on the shadow fleet, estimated at 500 vessels. France and Scandinavian nations have led aggressive moves, with UK special forces joining French boardings recently. Ireland is drafting laws to inspect these ships off its coast, focusing on deterrence since they lack places to hold seized vessels. The push ties into a joint expeditionary force summit in Helsinki, where partners like Finland, Sweden and Estonia discuss countering rushes. Maritime threats, they've already disrupted routes in the Baltic Sea, Ireland's new

1:02maritime strategy eyes closer ties with this group. UK officials say this will block sanctions ships from the channel and other waters, forcing them onto costlier paths or into detention. Training with military and law enforcement wrapped up recently, following a US-led seizure of a tanker near Scotland with British support, each target gets vetted by experts before ministers green light ops. By targeting about 75 percent of Russia's crude oil carriers, sanctioned alongside allies on 544 vessels, the UK aims to choke funding for the Ukraine war and limit Moscow's reach, including in the Arctic.