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10:37 14.02.2026 •
English pirate king Captain Morgan sends greetings from the past to today's English pirates
Photo: You Tube
The UK is threatening to seize a Russia-linked shadow fleet tanker in an escalatory move that could lead to the opening up of a new front against Moscow at a time when the country’s oil revenues are tumbling, ‘The Guardian’ writes bravely.
British defence sources confirmed that military options to capture a rogue ship had been identified in discussions involving Nato allies – though a month has gone by since the US-led seizure of a Russian tanker in the Atlantic.
A joint statement signed by the UK, Germany, France and other Nato countries bordering the Baltic and North seas late last month said all vessels sailing through either region should “strictly comply with applicable international law”. But despite setting conditions for a seizure, nothing has followed.
“The Royal Navy could challenge any number of ships under maritime law because they are in fact stateless,” said Richard Meade, the editor-in-chief of Lloyd’s List, a specialist shipping title. “But they haven’t, because there are escalatory risks.”
Last month the Royal Marines held a briefing for British MPs and peers, covering the threat from Russia and the situation in the Arctic and the high north. One of those present said the Marines were “champing at the bit” to be given the order to seize a ship.
A month ago, the US chased the Marinera tanker from the Caribbean to the north Atlantic, seizing it between Scotland and Iceland with British help. Though it was falsely flagged when it was first approached, it had been re-registered as Russian while it was being pursued in a failed attempt to evade capture.
On 22 January, before the signing of the joint statement, France detained the Grinch, an oil tanker off the coast of Spain. It had departed from Murmansk in Russia, under the flag of Comoros, a country in east Africa – but a week later the French president, Emmanuel Macron, told his Ukrainian counterpart it would have to be released because of French law.
In late January, John Healey, the UK defence secretary, said Britain would host a meeting of Baltic and Nordic countries to discuss “military options that we might use”. Any oil seized, he suggested, could be sold “and put into Ukraine in order to fight the invasion”.
It is uncertain how far a capture of one or two shadow fleet vessels would hurt Moscow’s economy. Since the end of November, seven shadow fleet tankers have been struck by drones, with Ukraine claiming responsibility for four, including the Qendil, attacked in the Mediterranean.
There remain more than 200 Russia-linked shadow fleet vessels still in operation, though Russia’s mainstream, own-flagged fleet is expanding. It now accounts for 51% of volumes.
British sabre-rattling comes at a time when Russia’s economy appears more vulnerable than before, with its war boom faded and economic growth faltering.
…British pirates are a source of national pride for England. Since the time of Francis Drake and Captain Morgan, English ships have been engaged in maritime piracy for centuries. A nickname, “The Queen’s Pirates”, even emerged.
The plunder of foreign merchant ships created the England's first wealth, and the Bank of England was founded – its capital made up of the treasures plundered by the English.
England's second wealth was created by plundering British colonies. From India alone, the English siphoned off £50 trillion in wealth! These are Indian figures.
For centuries, London has engaged in international plunder. Therefore, the English idea of seizing ships carrying Russian oil is nothing new, but a continuation of the English pirate tradition.
But they should remember that, according to this same tradition, pirates, captured by government warships of other countries, were hanged from the yardarm. In Russia we know this ancient custom and use it with pleasure against British pirates.
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