Putin threatens to seize European ships

Russian President Vladimir Putin has declared that Western seizures of Russian commercial vessels are acts of "piracy" and threatened retaliation. On a visit to a Russian warship participating in a Pacific naval exercise, Putin described the Western actions as breaches of international maritime law, warning that Russia would respond in kind.

The Russian Navy's Pacific Fleet chief, Admiral Viktor Liina, informed Putin that the military was prepared to begin inspections of commercial ships linked to "unfriendly nations." Many of these ships, including those operated by British, French, and other European carriers, fly the flags of other countries, effectively forming a "shadow fleet."

Liina stated that Russia has sufficient assets to inspect and detain vessels from these hostile nations. France and the United Kingdom have already detained ships suspected of belonging to Russia's shadow fleet, violating international sanctions imposed after Russian forces invaded Ukraine in February 2022. The European Union has sanctioned hundreds of these ships.

Russian President Vladimir Putin's deputy, Dmitry Medvedev, noted that many ships belonging to European carriers also fly the "flags of convenience," similar to Russian carriers. Medvedev argued that Russia has the right to target any merchant vessel carrying cargo in the interest of its enemies, whether in Russian or neutral waters, as long as there is reasonable suspicion.

He emphasized that Russia's military is capable of expanding operations well beyond the Black Sea basin.