Putin Threatens To Seize Western Ships In Retaliation For Russian Vessel Interdictions | Sahara Reporters

Several Western governments have in recent months intercepted or detained vessels they accuse of helping Russia evade sanctions and restrictions on its oil exports.

Russian President, Vladimir Putin, has warned that Moscow could seize Western commercial vessels in retaliation for the interception of Russian-linked ships, saying such actions could take place anywhere Russia considers necessary.

Putin issued the warning on Wednesday during a meeting with commanders of Russia’s Pacific Fleet, according RT, as tensions escalate over Western efforts to disrupt maritime trade allegedly linked to Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet.”

Several Western governments have in recent months intercepted or detained vessels they accuse of helping Russia evade sanctions and restrictions on its oil exports.

Putin condemned the actions, describing them as violations of international maritime law and warning that Russia would respond if Western governments continued with the seizures.

“Some nations are violating the Law of the Sea by trying to restrict the movement of our civilian traders. They recently came up with the idea of seizing our ships and selling off our plundered property. This is certainly nothing short of piracy and robbery,” Putin said.

He added: “If such a policy is implemented in practice, we will be forced to take mirror responses. And not necessarily in the waters where our ships are being raided. We’ll do it wherever and anywhere we see fit.”

Putin’s comments were followed by a briefing from Pacific Fleet Commander Admiral Viktor Liina, who said Russian authorities had detailed information on Western commercial vessels operating in and around Russia’s maritime zones.

Liina said that between April 24 and August 6, 2026, a total of 1,001 vessels passed through Russia’s exclusive economic zone, including 379 ships flying the flags of countries Moscow considers “unfriendly.”

According to the commander, the vessels included 273 general cargo ships and 71 tankers.

He said 26 of the tankers were registered under the British flag, while nine were flying the French flag.

The warning comes amid an increasingly confrontational campaign by Western governments against vessels they accuse of forming part of Russia’s “shadow fleet” — a term used to describe ships allegedly helping Moscow circumvent sanctions, including the price cap imposed on Russian oil exports.

The United Kingdom and France have carried out several interdictions involving vessels suspected of links to the Russian shadow fleet.

In June, The Telegraph reported that British authorities were considering selling approximately 100,000 tonnes of Russian crude seized from a sanctioned tanker, with the proceeds potentially being used to support Ukraine.

Russia has rejected the “shadow fleet” designation, arguing that it lacks a basis in international law and that efforts to restrict Russian commercial shipping violate Moscow’s right to conduct maritime trade.

Western governments, meanwhile, have sanctioned hundreds of vessels suspected of facilitating Russian oil exports and have increasingly moved beyond financial restrictions to physically intercepting and detaining some ships.

The maritime confrontation has also extended to the war between Russia and Ukraine.

Ukraine has expanded its use of the “shadow fleet” label to cover some Russian commercial vessels, including tankers and cargo ships, that Kyiv says are connected to Moscow’s sanctioned maritime trade.

Some of those vessels have subsequently been targeted in Ukrainian drone attacks.

Putin’s latest warning raises the prospect that the confrontation over Russia’s maritime trade could expand beyond sanctions and seizures of vessels allegedly linked to Moscow, potentially exposing Western commercial shipping to retaliatory action by Russia.

The threat also comes as the Kremlin continues to accuse Western governments of directly interfering with Russia’s economic activities under the guise of sanctions enforcement, while the United States and European allies maintain that restrictions on Russian shipping are intended to limit Moscow’s ability to finance its war in Ukraine.