MOSCOW (AP) 鈥� Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday threatened retaliation for , describing them as 鈥減iracy.鈥�
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.
鈥淚t鈥檚 nothing but piracy and robbery,鈥� Putin said. 鈥淚f this is done, we will be forced to respond in kind.鈥�
He added that the Russian response wouldn’t necessarily come in the waters where the Russian ships were seized, noting that Moscow could retaliate 鈥渋n any area where we see it as necessary and appropriate,鈥� including in the Pacific.
The Pacific Fleet chief, Adm. Viktor Liina, reported to Putin that the navy was ready to start inspections of the commercial ships serving the 鈥渦nfriendly nations.鈥� He noted that many of the ships operated by British, French and other European carriers fly the flags of other nations, effectively making them a 鈥渟hadow fleet.鈥�
鈥淲e have enough assets for inspection and detention of vessels of the unfriendly nations and their shadow fleet,鈥� Liina told Putin. 鈥淲e are ready to start performing the task.鈥�
Russia is believed to be using a fleet of hundreds of ships to evade international sanctions imposed after Moscow sent troops into Ukraine in February 2022.
France and the U.K. have detained tankers suspected of being of Russia’s shipping oil in violation of international sanctions. The EU has sanctioned hundreds of 鈥渟hadow fleet鈥� ships.
Russia has recently started deploying warships to escort its commercial vessels.
Dmitry Medvedev, who served as Russia鈥檚 president in 2008-2012 to let Putin observe term limits and is now deputy head of Russia鈥檚 Security Council, noted that many ships belonging to European carriers fly the so-called 鈥渇lags of convenience鈥� just like Russian carriers do.
鈥淚t means that by applying a symmetrical approach, which is only fair, Russia has the right to attack any merchant vessel belonging to hostile nations, whether in our waters or in neutral waters, provided there are reasonable grounds to suspect it is carrying cargo in the enemy鈥檚 interest, and that applies to any cargo,鈥� Medvedev said. 鈥淭here are a great many such vessels, and our military is capable of dramatically expanding operations well beyond the Black Sea basin.鈥�
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