The Kremlin announced on Thursday that Moscow would 'explore its legal options to the fullest extent possible' if Russian crude from a tanker captured by Britain in this month was sold.

The Daily Telegraph reported that Britain could hold an auction in order to sell the '100,000 tons' of Russian crude oil aboard the smyrtos - a suspected Russian Shadow Fleet tanker intercepted on June 14 by British forces.

The paper said that the proceeds could be used to finance Ukraine.

On a conference phone, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said: "There are definitely legal options to respond; they will examined and the situation?analysed."

Peskov, who was asked to comment on the report, said that such a?option would be "utilised to the utmost?extent" - both against those who have made or will make decisions of this nature, as well as those who are going to buy it.

He added, "There should be no doubt." (Reporting and editing by Clarence Fernandez; Dmitry Antonov)

(source: Reuters)