Moscow, June 15 (RIA Novosti/GNA) – There are no Russian citizens on board the oil tanker Smyrtos detained by the United Kingdom, the Russian Embassy in London told RIA Novosti on Monday.
In the early hours of Sunday, the UK Ministry of Defence said that a Cameroonian‑flagged vessel had been detained in the English Channel and would be moved to an anchorage in southern England.
“According to our information, there were no Russian citizens among the crew members of the detained tanker,” the embassy said.
The UK Ministry of Defence said the detention was carried out in accordance with UK and international law. Vessel‑tracking data showed the vessel’s last port of call was Ust‑Luga in Russia, and it is currently anchored south of Weymouth.
Russia condemns such actions by Western countries as “21st-century piracy.”
GNA/RIA Novosti