Russian ‘Shadow Fleet’ Hits British Waters 205 Times After Detention Warning

Russian “shadow fleet” ships have entered UK waters more than 200 times, despite the government being granted powers to detain them.

According to The i Paper, an investigation found that Russia-linked vessels regularly pass through UK territorial waters and its exclusive economic zone via routes in the English Channel and the North Sea.

Out of 205 cases, 84 ships entered UK territorial waters, while the rest sailed through the exclusive economic zone. So far, the UK has not seized any of these “shadow fleet” vessels.

In April 2026, Militarnyi reported that the Royal Navy had not detained any sanctioned Russian oil tankers, citing the high cost of holding such ships.

At present, the UK plays mainly a supporting role in international naval operations, providing intelligence and support vessels to the United States and France.

This is partly due to the Royal Navy’s limited condition and the absence of large coast guard vessels possessed by other countries.

Police units currently perform some coast guard duties. The Royal Navy itself does not have spare combat-ready ships.

Out of six Type 45 destroyers, only two – HMS Duncan and HMS Dragon – are currently deployed on international operations.

The other four vessels are at various stages of repair or modernization.

The situation is similar for Type 23 frigates: only two ships are currently operational, while the other five are undergoing modernization or repairs, and some are being prepared for decommissioning due to a lack of funding.

The submarine fleet is also affected: of the five Astute-class submarines, only HMS Anson is currently in the Indian Ocean. The others are undergoing repairs or maintenance.

The length of downtime is striking – HMS Ambush, HMS Artful, and HMS Audacious have not gone to sea for over a thousand days, and the lead ship of the class, HMS Astute, has been in Devonport for more than 308 days.