The Pak Global Pakistan:
A senior Kremlin official, Nikolai Patrushev, has warned that Russia’s navy could be deployed to prevent Western powers from seizing Russian ships amid ongoing sanctions targeting Moscow’s oil shipments and its so-called “shadow fleet.” Patrushev, a close ally of President Vladimir Putin responsible for shipping affairs, stressed the need to send a strong message, particularly to the United Kingdom, France, and Baltic states.
Patrushev accused Western countries of “piracy-like attacks” on Russian shipping and warned that without decisive resistance, Western nations might attempt to block Russia’s access to key maritime routes, especially in the Atlantic Basin. He underscored the importance of shipping oil, grain, and fertilizer for Russia’s economy and accused the West of targeting this critical sector.
He called for permanent deployment of substantial naval forces in major maritime regions to deter what he described as Western “pirates.” Patrushev also accused NATO of planning a naval blockade of Russia’s Kaliningrad exclave in the Baltic Sea, warning that such actions would provoke military escalation and retaliation by Russia’s navy if peaceful resolutions fail.
The backdrop includes recent incidents where Western authorities seized or detained Russian-linked tankers accused of evading sanctions. In January, U.S. special forces captured the Russian-flagged Marinera tanker linked to Venezuela, while French authorities detained the Grinch tanker in the Mediterranean, which was later released after a multimillion-euro fine.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot emphasized that evading European sanctions carries a significant cost, signaling a crackdown on Russia’s “ghost fleet.” The European Union has identified nearly 600 vessels suspected of being part of Russia’s shadow fleet, banning them from EU ports and maritime services.