Vladimir Putin has threatened a “mirror response” to European Union countries attempting to seize Russian commercial vessels, saying Russia could seize ships belonging to those countries “anywhere” it deems necessary.
Putin made the remarks during a meeting with Pacific Fleet personnel on Russia’s Sakhalin Island. “We see that the authorities of some countries, in violation of international maritime law, are trying to restrict the movement of vessels belonging to our economic operators — peaceful vessels, I want to stress,” he said. “And recently they came up with the idea of seizing our ships and selling off the property looted from us.”
He described the seizure of vessels from Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet”, a group of tankers used to bypass international oil sanctions, as “piracy and banditry” and said Russia would be “forced” to respond in kind if it occurs.
“We won’t necessarily do this in the waters where they seize our ships,” Putin said. “We will do it where we ourselves consider it necessary and appropriate — anywhere, including in the area of responsibility of the Pacific Fleet.”
Putin’s remarks refer to the EU’s 21st sanctions package against Russia, passed in July, which authorised member states to sell Russian oil and petroleum products seized from “shadow fleet” tankers. The new rules also allow the sale of grain confiscated from the vessels.
The comments mark a sharper tone than Putin’s previous call for caution. Last month, he also compared the detention of Russian vessels to piracy, but urged officials to “act carefully within the framework of international maritime law, but decisively, as is necessary to combat piracy and pirates,” according to independent outlet Agentstvo.
Pacific Fleet Commander Viktor Liina said the Russian military has the forces needed to inspect vessels from “unfriendly countries” and is ready to carry out the task set by Putin.
Russian presidential aide Nikolay Patrushev has also previously raised the possibility of seizing vessels belonging to countries that detain Russian tankers. “We, too, may become interested in what they are carrying and where they are going,” he said.
European countries have stepped up efforts to detain vessels suspected of belonging to Russia’s “shadow fleet” this year. Reuters reported that nine such tankers had been detained in Europe since the start of 2026, four of them in France. Ukraine’s allies have also been pressuring countries whose flags are flown by Russian vessels — including Barbados, Panama and Cameroon — to deregister them.
Ukraine has argued to the International Maritime Organization that vessels from the “shadow fleet” could be considered part of the infrastructure helping Moscow finance the war and should therefore be regarded as legitimate military targets.