SANCTIONED Russian tankers put two fingers up to Sir Keir Starmer by steaming through the Channel in defiance of his threats to seize them.
Half a dozen shadow fleet vessels chugged through British waters after the PM said that our military could board “sanctioned ships transiting UK waters”.
The Ministry of Defence boasted specialist troops had “been put through their paces in recent weeks” to prepare to storm vessels whose crews were armed and refused to surrender.
Two special forces spy planes — RAF Shadow R1s — spent hours patrolling the Channel on Thursday as sanctioned vessels passed.
The Prime Minister vowed the crackdown would “starve Putin’s war machine” of cash it needs to fight in Ukraine.
But for all the Government’s bluster, at least six sanctioned vessels have transited the Dover Strait unchallenged.
They also sailed past Navy HQ at Portsmouth, Special Boat Service HQ at Poole, plus Royal Marine bases unhindered.
Maritime law expert James Turner KC, a former Royal Marine, said ships have the right of “innocent passage” even if they are sanctioned, unless they are smugglers, slavers, pirates or sailing under a false flag.
He added: “If they are behaving themselves, you can’t stop them.”
A Defence Source said: We will not comment on specific operational planning or give a running commentary as this could compromise our ability to successfully take action against these ships, only benefitting our adversaries.
“In general terms, any target ship will be individually considered by law enforcement, military and energy market specialists before an operation is executed.”
