Putin sends boat 'full of weapons' and warship through English Channel

Vladimir Putin has sent a suspected weapons-laden cargo ship through the English Channel under protection from a Russian warship. The warship Admiral Grigorovich is escorting a group of Russian vessels, including the 415ft Sparta, which has previously been linked to transporting military equipment to Syria , off the south coast. The Sparta, which is said to be bound for Port Said in northern Egypt, entered the Channel near Dover on Thursday morning. A number of vessels are accompanying the Sparta, including sanctioned tanker the General Skobelev and the Akademik Pashin, a medium-sized refuelling ship, reports the Telegraph . It comes after Prime Minister Keir Starmer authorised the use of military force to target vessels in Putin's shadow fleet, which is believed to export oil worldwide in breach of sanctions to fund Russia's war on Ukraine . Under plans set out last month, Starmer gave special forces and National Crime Agency officers permission to board and seize such vessels. This is a breaking news story. Follow us on Google News , Flipboard , Apple News , Twitter , Facebook or visit The Mirror homepage.