Putin Warns of Retaliation Over Seizure of Russian Vessels

Russian President Vladimir Putin has issued a warning regarding Western actions against Russian commercial ships. On Wednesday, during a visit to a Russian warship participating in naval exercises in the Pacific, he labeled the seizures of Russian-linked vessels by Western nations as ‘piracy.’

Putin expressed that these actions violate international maritime law, stating, “It’s nothing but piracy and robbery.” He emphasized that Russia might have to respond similarly, suggesting that potential retaliation might occur outside the waters where the Russian ships were detained, including in the Pacific.

Admiral Viktor Liina, chief of the Pacific Fleet, assured Putin of the navy’s readiness to inspect commercial ships from ‘unfriendly nations.’ He noted that several ships run by British, French, and other European operators fly different national flags, turning them into a ‘shadow fleet.’ “We have sufficient assets for inspection and detention of vessels from unfriendly nations and their shadow fleet,” Liina informed Putin. “We are ready to start performing the task.”

This response comes amid allegations that Russia employs a fleet of hundreds of ships to circumvent international sanctions imposed following its military actions in Ukraine in February 2022. Recently, France and the United Kingdom have detained tankers suspected of being part of Russia’s ‘shadow fleet’ that transport oil, violating international sanctions. The European Union has sanctioned numerous ‘shadow fleet’ ships.

In response to these developments, Russia has begun deploying warships to accompany its commercial vessels. Dmitry Medvedev, former Russian President and now deputy head of Russia’s Security Council, stated that many European ships also use ‘flags of convenience,’ similar to Russian carriers. He explained that Russia, by applying a ‘symmetrical approach,’ could legitimately target merchant vessels from hostile nations, whether in Russian or neutral waters, if suspected of carrying cargo benefiting the enemy. “There are numerous such vessels, and our military can significantly expand operations beyond the Black Sea region,” Medvedev remarked.