EXC Sir Keir Starmer is considering a plan to sell sanctioned oil seized from a Russian shadow tanker to fund the war in Ukraine. The Telegraph understands ministers could hold an auction to sell off the 100,000 tons of Russian crude oil on board Smyrtos, which was stopped by the Royal Marines in the Channel on June 14. The ship, which was part of Vladimir Putin’s shadow fleet, was operating in breach of UK sanctions law by trading illicit oil. Since the seizure, the ship has been anchored off the coast of Weymouth under the control of the Ministry of Defence. Ajay Pant, the captain, who is an Indian national, has been charged with sanctions evasion. Officials believe the 98,000 tons of Ural crude oil on the ship now legally belongs to the UK, and can be used or traded by the British government. Ministers are considering proposals to sell the oil, which has a market value of around £35m, and use the money raised to fund Ukraine’s war effort. The plan, which is at an early stage, could see the money transferred directly to Ukraine or used to fund equipment sent to the front lines.