Nearly 200 ships linked to Russia have entered United Kingdom territorial waters despite government warnings that such vessels could be boarded, according to analysis of ship-tracking data.

The vessels are believed to be part of Russia's "shadow fleet" - ships used to transport oil and other goods while evading international sanctions imposed following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

The UK government had previously issued warnings that it would take enforcement action against sanctioned vessels found in British waters, including the possibility of boarding such ships.

The ship-tracking data analysis suggests these warnings have not deterred the passage of Russia-linked vessels through UK waters. The vessels' movements indicate continued attempts to circumvent sanctions through maritime transport routes.

The shadow fleet represents part of Russia's broader strategy to maintain international trade relationships despite economic sanctions. These ships often operate with obscured ownership structures and altered identification systems to avoid detection by authorities.