Vladimir Putin has directed a suspected weapons-carrying cargo vessel through the English Channel with the protection of a Russian warship.
The Russian warship Admiral Grigorovich is guiding a cluster of Russian ships, including the 415ft Sparta, known for its involvement in transporting military gear to Syria, off the southern coast.
The Sparta, reportedly en route to Port Said in northern Egypt, entered the Channel near Dover on Thursday morning, accompanied by several other vessels such as the sanctioned tanker General Skobelev and the Akademik Pashin, a medium-sized refueling vessel.
Recently, Prime Minister Keir Starmer approved the potential use of military action against ships in Putin’s alleged shadow fleet, which is suspected of violating sanctions by exporting oil globally to support Russia’s activities in Ukraine.
Despite the authorization granted last month, no decisive action has been taken yet as there are ongoing disagreements within the government regarding the handling and funding of captured tankers.
The Sparta faced sanctions in May 2022 and has been associated with the ‘Syrian Express,’ a supply line utilized by Russian ships passing through the Bosphorus to aid the Assad regime.