Royal Navy joins French operation against sanctioned Russian tanker

The Gibraltar Squadron’s fast patrol vessel HMS Cutlass was dispatched to track MV Deyna, reporting on the ship’s movements and capturing imagery to support French forces.

The vessel is under UK and European sanction for its role in facilitating the trade in illegal oil.

This is the second time this year the Gibraltar Squadron has been activated on such a mission, after Cutlass helped the French as they boarded the tanker Grinch in January.

Lieutenant Commander Jonathan Davies, Commanding Officer of the Royal Navy Gibraltar Squadron, said: “This is the second monitoring mission the Royal Navy Gibraltar Squadron has conducted in direct support of our NATO allies in 2026.

“It is hugely important to the United Kingdom’s and our partners’ security that we maintain a presence in the region and make full use of our strategic location — reassuring both Gibraltarians and our allies that we remain firmly committed to ensuring maritime security.”

Defence Secretary John Healey MP said: “I am proud of the support our UK Armed Forces provided to this French operation. Disrupting, deterring and degrading Russia’s shadow fleet and starving Putin’s war machine of funds is a priority for this government and we will continue to take action alongside our allies.

 “As demands on defence rise, our military is stepping up - keeping Britain safe at home as we support Ukraine, deter Russia and deliver defensive operations in the Middle East.”

This operation comes in the same week a Royal Navy warship and helicopter completed a focused 48-hour operation monitoring Russian activity in UK waters as part of coordinated NATO efforts.

Portsmouth-based HMS Mersey and a Wildcat helicopter from 815 Naval Air Squadron were dispatched to report on the movements of Russian Steregushchiy-class frigate RFN Soobrazitelny and sanctioned oil tanker MV Anatoly Kolodkin in the English Channel.