The Russian cargo ship ‘Baltic Leader’ was seized on Saturday morning
(Picture: Getty Images)A Russian cargo ship bound for St Petersburg has been detained in the English Channel.
The ‘Baltic Leader’ is believed to be owned by Promsvyazbank, one of the major Russian banks sanctioned by the UK and EU.
The ship was seized by French officials on Saturday morning and taken to the port of Boulogne-sur-Mer.
Captain Veronique Magnin of the French Maritime Prefecture said the vessel is suspected of violating the sanctions linked to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The 130 metre-long ship left Rouen on February 19 in Normandy and was intercepted near Honfleur on the northern coast, the captain said.
The ship was expected to reach St Petersburg by March 3.
The EU has announced sanctions on Rossiya Bank and VEB, while on Friday, the UK, EU, US and Canada froze the assets of Vladimir Putin and his foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov.
EU leaders have also agreed on a raft of sanctions aimed at 70 per cent of Russian banks.
The bloc also limited Russian access to semiconductor technology and banned the sale of aircraft and equipment to airlines in the state.
EU leaders are also contemplating removing Russia from the Swift financial messaging system which is used by up to 11,000 banks across the world.
Sports leagues also sought to punish Russia, and even the popular Eurovision song contest banned Russian acts from the event’s May finals in Italy.
Poland is refusing to play its World Cup qualifier against Russia next month in response to the invasion.
Russia has also been stripped of hosting the Champions League final by UEFA with St Petersburg replaced by Paris, and Formula One dropped this season’s Russian Grand Prix in Sochi in September.
