- A government minister has admitted that no sanctioned Russian vessels have been intercepted in British waters, despite new powers introduced in March.
- Liberal Democrats MP Mike Martin said that 63 sanctioned Russian vessels have transited UK territorial waters since the new measures were implemented, averaging one per day.
- The Ministry of Defence announced new powers in March, allowing armed forces to board sanctioned boats crossing into British waters to tackle Russia’s shadow fleet.
- The minister for armed forces, Alistair Carns, explained that each sanctioned vessel has unique legal and policy parameters, which dictate whether boarding is possible.
- Separately, the UK and its allies tracked a Russian attack submarine and two spy submersibles over critical undersea cables in the North Atlantic for a month, highlighting broader concerns about Russian surveillance.
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