A recent investigation by BBC Verify has uncovered that the Russian warship Boikiy employed a deceptive strategy by broadcasting a fake ID code during its passage through the English Channel. The corvette, armed with guided missiles, was traveling alongside two oil tankers that are part of Russia's "shadow fleet," which operates under hidden ownership to transport sanctioned oil products. The unusual maneuver appears to be a response to increased Western actions against such fleets, which analysts suggest might be intended to deter NATO nations from intercepting or targeting these vessels.
**Russian Warship Camouflages Itself in English Channel to Escort Sanctioned Tankers**
**Russian Warship Camouflages Itself in English Channel to Escort Sanctioned Tankers**
A BBC investigation reveals the Russian corvette Boikiy temporarily altered its identity to protect two sanctioned vessels while transiting the English Channel.
The Boikiy, known to have departed West Africa on a diplomatic mission, had its identity masked while it traveled in the vicinity of sanctions-enforced tankers. An investigation utilizing satellite imagery and tracking data confirmed the ship’s identity and movements, revealing it sailed alongside the sanctioned tankers Sierra and Naxos.
The Boikiy left port without broadcasting its Automatic Identification System (AIS) but was tracked after being momentarily sighted using a generic identification code. Military experts expressed that this cloaking, alongside military escort, elevates risks of confrontation while conveying a clear intent to challenge NATO's authority in these waters. The Royal Navy reportedly shadowed the Boikiy during its passage, and while it is unclear where the vessels are heading, they have proceeded deeper into the Baltic Sea, possibly en route to Russian ports.
As the geopolitical tensions persist, this incident underscores the complex dynamics of maritime operations involving military and sanction-evading vessels in strategic waterways.
The Boikiy left port without broadcasting its Automatic Identification System (AIS) but was tracked after being momentarily sighted using a generic identification code. Military experts expressed that this cloaking, alongside military escort, elevates risks of confrontation while conveying a clear intent to challenge NATO's authority in these waters. The Royal Navy reportedly shadowed the Boikiy during its passage, and while it is unclear where the vessels are heading, they have proceeded deeper into the Baltic Sea, possibly en route to Russian ports.
As the geopolitical tensions persist, this incident underscores the complex dynamics of maritime operations involving military and sanction-evading vessels in strategic waterways.
