Putin warns of retaliation for Western seizures of Russian commercial ships

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday threatened retaliation for Western seizures of its commercial vessels, describing them as “piracy.”

Speaking on a visit to a Russian warship that was taking part in a naval exercise in the Pacific, Putin described the Western moves to detain vessels linked to Russia as a breach of international maritime law.

“It’s nothing but piracy and robbery,” Putin said. “If this is done, we will be forced to respond in kind.”

He added that the Russian response would not necessarily come in the waters where the Russian ships were seized, noting that Moscow could retaliate “in any area where we see it as necessary and appropriate”, including in the Pacific.

The Pacific Fleet chief, Admiral Viktor Liina, reported to Putin that the navy was ready to start inspections of the commercial ships serving the “unfriendly nations”. He noted that many of the ships operated by British, French and other European carriers flew the flags of other nations, effectively making them a “shadow fleet”.

“We have enough assets for inspection and detention of vessels of the unfriendly nations and their shadow fleet,” Liina told Putin. “We are ready to start performing the task.”