First Russian shadow fleet vessel enters Channel since Smyrtos boarding

"British armed forces are now able to board sanctioned vessels that are passing through our waters."

— Sir Keir Starmer , Politician

"Going after vessels that are falsely flagged or misusing a flag of convenience is one thing, but this would be going after Russia directly which would be a further step up in escalation."

— Frederik Van Lokeren , Academic

"There were definitely reasonable grounds to suspect the vessel was without nationality."

— Mark Douglas , Academic