UK armed forces intercept Russian shadow fleet in Channel, exposing crypto-powered sanctions evasion

British armed forces intercepted the SMYRTOS, a suspected Russian shadow fleet oil tanker, in the English Channel on Sunday under orders from Prime Minister Keir Starmer. This operation exposes the increasing complexity of sanctions evasion and highlights the specific role of crypto in global finance. The interception of the Russian shadow fleet underscores how these vessels are utilized to bypass international restrictions, revealing the evolving methods used to maintain oil exports despite existing global sanctions.