Putin threatens retaliation for Western seizures of Russian commercial vessels
Russian President Vladimir Putin warned on Wednesday that Moscow would retaliate after Western countries seized Russian commercial vessels, calling the detentions “piracy” that violates international maritime law.
Source: Associated Press · August 13, 2026 at 4:13 AM · AI-assisted report
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KUALA LUMPUR, 13 AUGUST 2026 —
Russian President Vladimir Putin warned on Wednesday that Moscow would retaliate after Western countries seized Russian commercial vessels, calling the detentions “piracy” that violates international maritime law.
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Speaking aboard the guided-missile cruiser Varyag near Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, Putin said the seizures amounted to “nothing but piracy and robbery” and vowed “we will be forced to respond in kind.” He added that Russia’s response would not be limited to the Pacific, saying Moscow could act “in any area where we see it as necessary and appropriate,” including the Pacific.
Admiral Viktor Liina, commander of Russia’s Pacific Fleet, told Putin the navy stood ready to inspect and detain ships operated by European carriers that use “flags of convenience” to mask their ownership. Liina said many vessels serving “unfriendly nations” fly flags from third countries, creating a “shadow fleet” that allows them to evade sanctions.
Russia has deployed hundreds of ships to bypass restrictions imposed after its 2022 invasion of Ukraine, according to Western governments. France and the United Kingdom have recently detained tankers suspected of carrying Russian oil in violation of sanctions, while the European Union has blacklisted hundreds of vessels in the so-called shadow fleet.
Dmitry Medvedev, deputy head of Russia’s Security Council and a former president, said European carriers routinely use flags of convenience—just as Russian operators do—giving Moscow grounds for symmetric retaliation.
“It 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’s interest,” he said.
Russia has begun escorting its commercial vessels with warships, signalling a shift toward direct naval involvement in protecting shipping.
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