LONDON, March 25 (Xinhua) -- British armed forces will be able to board "shadow fleet" vessels transiting its waters, the British government said on Wednesday.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has authorized armed forces and law enforcement officers to interdict vessels that have been sanctioned by the country and are transiting through its waters, according to a press release from No. 10 Downing Street.
The move came after the Royal Navy supported allies in monitoring and tracking "shadow fleet" ships in recent weeks, the government said, as it seeks to step up its pressure on Russia.
A number of European countries recently carried out operations against "suspected illegal shadow fleet vessels" in the Baltic, it said, adding that Britain will "put a further stranglehold" on the "shadow fleet" and close off its waters for sanctioned vessels.
Starmer said the move aims to keep Britain safe and to starve Russia's operation in Ukraine.
The government said that each target ship will be considered individually before an operation is carried out. Once a ship is detained, criminal proceedings may be brought against the owners, operators and crew for breaching British sanctions legislation.
Britain has imposed sanctions on 544 Russian shadow fleet vessels alongside its allies, according to the press release. ■