Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy noticeA Russian cargo ship dropped anchor in the Bristol Channel near undersea data cables amid growing concerns around Russia’s shadow fleet. The ship came within less than a mile of several undersea data cables, including the TGN Atlantic cable system, which connects Britain to New Jersey. The term, shadow fleet, is used to describe Russia’s practice of using an old collection of ships, often tankers flying under false flags, in order to smuggle sanctioned goods, such as oil. A Ministry of Defence spokesperson said: “Deterring, disrupting and degrading the Russian shadow fleet is a priority for this government – alongside our allies, we are stepping up our response to shadow vessels.