Authorities in the UK arrested 38-year-old Captain Ajay Pant, an Indian national, for purportedly breaching sanctions against Russia. He faces allegations of facilitating the supply of Russian oil to a third country, despite the stringent sanctions imposed following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Captain Pant is currently in custody and is set to appear at Bournemouth Crown Court on July 16.
The incident involved the SMYRTOS, a Russian oil tanker that was intercepted by British Armed Forces while attempting to navigate the English Channel last week. On the orders of Prime Minister Keir Starmer, the tanker was boarded by Royal Marine Commandos and National Crime Agency officers. The vessel had departed from the Russian Baltic Port of Ust-Luga on June 5, 2026, and was en route to Egypt’s Port Said when it was seized, along with its 24 crew members from India and Georgia, who remain on board the tanker anchored off Weymouth in Dorset.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed his gratitude to Prime Minister Starmer and the British public for their unwavering stance. He emphasized that Russia’s arrogance, supported by high oil and gas revenues, contributed to the ongoing conflict. Zelenskyy urged Europe to implement stringent measures to detect such tankers, advocating for not just restrictions on shipments but also the confiscation of Russian oil.
