Sanctioned Russian Tanker Navigates English Channel

A Russian-flagged tanker dubbed Forwarder has brazenly entered the English Channel — the first sanctioned vessel of its kind to do so since the boarding of the Smyrtos — raising alarms as tracking suggests a Royal Navy warship may be nearby. Sanctioned by the UK, US, and EU in 2025 for smuggling Russian oil, the vessel has changed names twice and is now headed to Dongying, China. While the Smyrtos was seized for sailing without a flag, the Forwarder flies a legitimate Russian flag, making a similar move far less likely — especially with a Russian warship reportedly nearby. Experts warn any attempt to board could spark major escalation. Support the show:Get a discount at https://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/927153e7db82c26a