Russia threatens retaliation over seized ships

Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned that Russia will respond in kind if European Union countries continue to seize Russian merchant ships. Speaking during a naval exercise on the missile cruiser Varyag in the Pacific, Putin denounced the EU's recent actions as "piracy and robbery" and a violation of international maritime law. He threatened that Russia's countermeasures could occur "wherever we deem it necessary and appropriate."

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piracy and robbery

As of June 25, Britain and EU countries had seized nine suspected Russian shadow fleet tankers. Russia's oil shadow fleet is estimated to comprise over a thousand vessels. In June, Britain stopped a Russian shadow fleet oil tanker in the English Channel, and in March, France seized a Russian shadow ship in the Mediterranean.

The EU recently agreed on its 21st package of sanctions against Russia, which freezes the price cap on Russian oil at $44 per barrel. Without this decision, Russia would have benefited from rising global oil prices. The sanctions package also includes a provision allowing EU countries to sell cargo from seized shadow fleet tankers. The EU added 41 shadow fleet vessels to its sanctions list, bringing the total to 673.

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wherever we deem it necessary and appropriate

Viktor Liina, commander of Russia's Pacific Fleet, informed Putin that Russia is prepared to inspect and detain vessels belonging to "unfriendly" countries and their "shadow fleet." Liina stated, "We know the ships' routes, what they carry, and whose ships they are." Former Russian President and Security Council Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev claimed on Telegram that Russia has the right to attack commercial vessels of "hostile states" sailing in international waters if there is a justified reason to suspect they are carrying cargo that benefits an "adversary."

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We know the ships' routes, what they carry, and whose ships they are