Putin threatens to seize European ships over EU shadow-fleet measures
This digest was compiled by AI from multiple sources — links to the originals are below.
Russian President Vladimir Putin threatened on August 12 to seize European ships if EU member states confiscate or sell cargo from vessels linked to Russia's 'shadow fleet.' Speaking during Pacific Fleet drills, he called the EU measures piracy and robbery and said Russia would respond in kind wherever it deemed necessary, including the Pacific Fleet's zone of responsibility. The warning came as EU member states gained new authority to sell cargo from detained vessels under a sanctions package that added 41 ships in July to a list already at 632.
The Kremlin Warning
Russian President Vladimir Putin said on August 12 that Russia would seize ships belonging to European countries if they began selling cargo confiscated from vessels linked to Moscow's 'shadow fleet.' He described such actions as 'nothing less than piracy and robbery' during exercises by Russia's Pacific Fleet. Putin said any Russian response would not be limited to waters where Russian ships were detained and could occur in the Pacific Fleet's zone of responsibility. He did not provide further details on timing or scale.
EU Sanctions and Shadow Fleet
The European Union in June authorized naval forces under Operation IRINI in the Mediterranean Sea to inspect ships it considers part of Russia's shadow fleet. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said the vessels 'really do pose a danger' and that the measures aim to limit Russia's ability to finance its war in Ukraine. In July, the 21st sanctions package added 41 vessels to the EU shadow-fleet list, which already included 632 ships, DW reported. Member states also gained authority to sell seized cargo and transfer proceeds to the seizing state.
NATO Boardings
A NATO representative told Business Insider that allied naval forces boarded and inspected about a dozen Russia-linked shadow-fleet vessels over the past year, DW reported. The network is used to transport oil and circumvent sanctions on Russian energy exports. According to European media reports cited by RFE/RL, Swedish court documents showed Stockholm was planning to transfer to Kyiv a seized Russian ship suspected of carrying grain from Russian-occupied parts of Ukraine.
What's Next
The next test will be whether EU member states begin using the July mechanism to sell cargo from detained shadow-fleet vessels. It remains unclear whether Russia will follow through on its seizure warning or how NATO allies would respond.
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Putin threatens to seize European ships over EU shadow-fleet measures
