{"id":2505,"date":"2026-08-13T04:38:40","date_gmt":"2026-08-13T04:38:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/topmovingpross.com\/?p=2505"},"modified":"2026-08-13T04:38:40","modified_gmt":"2026-08-13T04:38:40","slug":"putin-threatens-retaliation-for-western-seizures-of-russian-commercial-vessels","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/topmovingpross.com\/?p=2505","title":{"rendered":"Putin threatens retaliation for Western seizures of Russian commercial vessels"},"content":{"rendered":"
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MOSCOW (AP) \u2014 Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday threatened retaliation for Western seizures of its commercial vessels<\/span>, describing them as \u201cpiracy.\u201d <\/p>\n

Read more US strikes targeting Houthis killed 153 civilians in Yemen last year, Pentagon review says<\/a><\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s nothing but piracy and robbery,\u201d Putin said. \u201cIf this is done, we will be forced to respond in kind.\u201d<\/p>\n

He added that the Russian response wouldn\u2019t necessarily come in the waters where the Russian ships were seized, noting that Moscow could retaliate \u201cin any area where we see it as necessary and appropriate,\u201d including in the Pacific.<\/p>\n

The Pacific Fleet chief, Adm. Viktor Liina, reported to Putin that the navy was ready to start inspections of the commercial ships serving the \u201cunfriendly nations.\u201d 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 \u201cshadow fleet.\u201d<\/p>\n

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\u201cWe have enough assets for inspection and detention of vessels of the unfriendly nations and their shadow fleet,\u201d Liina told Putin. \u201cWe are ready to start performing the task.\u201d<\/p>\n

Read more Iranian-backed Houthis kill 6 in attack on vessel, and other developments in the Mideast<\/a><\/p>\n

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. <\/p>\n

France and the U.K. have detained tankers suspected of being of Russia\u2019s \u201cshadow fleet\u201d<\/span> shipping oil in violation of international sanctions. The EU has sanctioned hundreds of \u201cshadow fleet\u201d ships.<\/p>\n

Russia has recently started deploying warships to escort its commercial vessels.<\/p>\n

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Dmitry Medvedev, who served as Russia\u2019s president in 2008-2012 to let Putin observe term limits and is now deputy head of Russia\u2019s Security Council, noted that many ships belonging to European carriers fly the so-called \u201cflags of convenience\u201d just like Russian carriers do.<\/p>\n

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\u201cIt 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\u2019s interest, and that applies to any cargo,\u201d Medvedev said. \u201cThere are a great many such vessels, and our military is capable of dramatically expanding operations well beyond the Black Sea basin.\u201d<\/p>\n

Read more WHO says Congo\u2019s Ebola outbreak is on track to eclipse the deadliest one in history<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Russian President Vladimir Putin has threatened retaliation against Western seizures of Russian commercial vessels, calling them “piracy.” Speaking from a Russian warship in the Pacific, Putin criticized the detentions as breaches of international maritime law. He warned that Russia could respond in any area deemed necessary, not just where the ships were seized. The Pacific Fleet chief, Adm. Viktor Liina, stated that the navy is ready to inspect ships from “unfriendly nations.” Russia is believed to be using a “shadow fleet” to evade sanctions. France and the U.K. have detained tankers suspected of violating these sanctions.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2504,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2505","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-world-news"],"yoast_head":"\nPutin threatens retaliation for Western seizures of Russian commercial vessels - Top Moving Pros<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/topmovingpross.com\/?p=2505\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Putin threatens retaliation for Western seizures of Russian commercial vessels - Top Moving Pros\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Russian President Vladimir Putin has threatened retaliation against Western seizures of Russian commercial vessels, calling them "piracy." Speaking from a Russian warship in the Pacific, Putin criticized the detentions as breaches of international maritime law. He warned that Russia could respond in any area deemed necessary, not just where the ships were seized. The Pacific Fleet chief, Adm. Viktor Liina, stated that the navy is ready to inspect ships from "unfriendly nations." Russia is believed to be using a "shadow fleet" to evade sanctions. 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