Russian Warship Employs Deceptive Tactics in English Channel, Escorting Shadow Fleet – World Today News
London, UK – June 25, 2025 – A Russian Corvette, identified as the “Boyalik,” has undertaken a highly unusual maneuver, transmitting a falsified identification signal while navigating through the English Channel alongside two tankers belonging to Russia’s “shadow fleet.” This incident,reported by The telegraph,raises concerns about Moscow’s attempts to circumvent international sanctions and protect its illicit oil trade.
The “Boyalik,” equipped with missile systems and machine guns, utilized a generic identification number (4000000) – previously used by other vessels – to disguise its presence on maritime tracking systems. This intentional act of obscuring its Automatic Identification System (AIS) mirrors a similar event in March, where the same warship was tracked passing through the Channel and the North Sea.
Analysts suggest this tactic is a calculated effort to deter the UK and other NATO members from intercepting the shadow fleet, comprised of vessels used to transport Russian oil despite sanctions imposed following the invasion of Ukraine. The Telegraph reports that the number of Russian oil tankers traversing the Channel has nearly doubled since the implementation of these sanctions.
The “Boyalik” was accompanied by the tankers “Sierra” and “Naxos,” both identified as part of the Russian shadow fleet. notably, the vessel had deactivated its AIS tracking system while departing from Konakri, Guinea, earlier this month, further highlighting the intent to remain undetected.
This incident underscores the increasingly complex methods employed by Russia to maintain its economic activities in the face of international pressure. The use of a warship as a protective escort for commercial tankers represents a significant escalation in these tactics and signals a heightened level of risk in the region.
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