Putin vows ‘mirror response’ as Europe targets vessels in Russia’s shadow fleet
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Russian dictator Vladimir Putin threatens to seize EU vessels (Photo: Sputnik/Sergei Fadeichev/Pool via REUTERS)
Russian dictator Vladimir Putin threatened to retaliate for
European detentions of Russian merchant vessels by seizing EU ships “anywhere,”
Russian outlet Agentstvo.Novosti
reported.
Putin issued the threat during a meeting with Pacific Fleet
personnel aboard the missile cruiser Varyag, warning that Russia would respond
in kind if the European Union acted on its recent decisions targeting Russian
vessels.
“I want to draw attention to the decisions recently adopted
by the European Union. ... If they begin to be put into practice, we will have
to respond in kind,” Putin said. “Not necessarily in the waters where attacks
on our ships and vessels are planned, but wherever we consider it necessary and
appropriate. Anywhere — including within the Pacific Fleet’s area of
responsibility.”
Putin did not address why the EU has imposed restrictions on
Russia’s shadow fleet.
In late July 2026, he compared the detention of Russian
vessels to piracy. At the time, however, Putin said Russia needed to “act
carefully within the bounds of international maritime law, but decisively — as
piracy and pirates ought to be fought.”
Since the beginning of 2026, Belgium, Britain, France and
Sweden have detained at least nine vessels belonging to Russia’s shadow fleet.
Another vessel, the tanker Marinera, was intercepted in the Atlantic after a
pursuit involving the United States. U.S. authorities later sold the tanker for
scrap.
Putin did not mention the U.S. interception or subsequent
sale when discussing the shadow fleet seizures.
In early June 2026, the European Union expanded the mandate
of its IRINI naval mission, authorizing it to stop and inspect vessels
suspected of belonging to Russia’s shadow fleet.
EU high representative Kaja Kallas said the mission was
intended not only to enforce sanctions against Russia, but also to strengthen
maritime security and reduce revenue the Kremlin could use to finance its war
against Ukraine.
Operation IRINI, headquartered in Rome, was launched in
March 2020 to enforce the U.N. arms embargo on Libya. The mission also monitors
illicit oil exports and works to prevent human trafficking.
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