Sanctioned Russian Tankers Passed Through the English Channel: Why Were They Not Stopped.

According to ТСН: Two oil tankers linked to the Kremlin's 'shadow fleet' were spotted passing through the English Channel near Britain. Despite U.S. sanctions, their seizure has yet to occur.

The tankers Aria and Tia have repeatedly changed their names and country of registration.

Details About the Tankers

The tanker Aria, sailing under the flag of Barbados, was spotted Thursday evening as it traveled from Plymouth to Jersey on its way to the commercial port of Ust-Luga in the eastern part of the Baltic Sea. This vessel is listed in the U.S. Treasury Department's sanctions list and has ties to the largest Russian shipping company.

The tanker Tia, now known as 'Tiavan', is heading from Turkey to a port in the Gulf of Finland in Russia, with arrival planned for January 13. Under the name 'Tia', the vessel was sanctioned by the U.S. in 2024 for transporting crude oil from Venezuela, after which it changed its name first to 'Arcusat' and later to 'Tiavan'.

Expectations Regarding Seizures

The publication notes that the tankers Aria and Tia are near the southern shores of Britain just a day after the seizure of the tanker Marinera in the Atlantic, which was carried out by the United States with British support. This vessel was also considered part of Moscow's 'shadow fleet'.

UK Defense Minister John Healy stated on Wednesday evening that the seizure of the oil tanker Marinera was justified not only because the vessel was sailing under a foreign flag but also because it was illegally transporting oil 'to finance the illegal invasion of Ukraine'.

These statements have drawn attention, as there are hopes that the UK, with U.S. support, may conduct operations against other Russian or Russia-linked oil tankers near British territory, which have already been sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury Department.

On Thursday, the British Ministry of Defense declined to comment on any plans regarding the seizure of sanctioned vessels or to provide real-time comments.

Moreover, it was previously reported that on January 8, a Russia-linked oil tanker became a target for a maritime drone in the Black Sea off the coast of Turkey.

This situation highlights the growing tension surrounding Russian oil supplies amid sanctions and global security. The movement of the tankers Aria and Tia raises questions about the effectiveness of international sanctions and the capabilities of Britain and its allies to take further action.

The situation regarding the seizure of tankers may influence the further developments in Ukraine and the attitudes of Western nations towards Russian aggression, especially in the context of energy security.