Skip to main content

Written question asked by Ben Obese-Jecty (Conservative) on Tuesday, 19 May 2026, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 1 June 2026 (named day). It was answered by Al Carns (Labour) on Monday, 1 June 2026 on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.


Russia: Shipping

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Answer of 29 April 2026 to Question 128971 on Shipping: Sanctions, what the legal basis is for conducting maritime interdiction operations against sanctioned Russian Shadow Fleet vessels transiting UK waters in relation to (a) the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and (b) domestic law.

Answer

Sanctions enforcement is taken by various enforcement bodies under powers in the Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Act 2018, and regulations made under it, UK armed forces may support those agencies in the exercise of their powers.

All interdiction activity undertaken by the UK armed forces is consistent with the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.


Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
2959
Session
2026-27
Related items
Shipping: Sanctions
Wednesday, 29 April 2026
Written questions
House of Commons
Russia: Shipping
Monday, 8 June 2026
Written questions
House of Commons
Russia: Shipping
Monday, 8 June 2026
Written questions
House of Commons
Russia: Shipping
Thursday, 11 June 2026
Written questions
House of Commons
Transferred
Yes
Subjects
Shipping Territorial waters Sanctions Russia
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk