Putin Threatens Retaliation Over Russian Ship Seizures as Moscow Tracks 379 Western Vessels
Updated
Updated · Business Insider · Aug 13
Putin Threatens Retaliation Over Russian Ship Seizures as Moscow Tracks 379 Western Vessels
3 articles · Updated · Business Insider · Aug 13
Summary
Putin said Russia would retaliate “anywhere we consider necessary,” including the Pacific Fleet’s area, if Europe begins seizing Russian commercial ships under tougher sanctions.
Pacific Fleet commander Viktor Liina said Moscow had mapped Western shipping in the Asia-Pacific and knows the routes, cargoes and ownership of vessels from “unfriendly” states.
The warning follows a July EU sanctions change allowing national authorities to sell confiscated Russian oil cargoes, while British and EU forces have already boarded sanctioned shadow-fleet tankers in recent weeks.
Oil and gas remain central to Kremlin revenue, making maritime sanctions a key pressure point as Ukraine also strikes Russian energy sites and Russia’s economy slows despite 1.3% second-quarter GDP growth.