A senior Kremlin official close to President Vladimir Putin has warned that Russia may use its navy to protect merchant ships. He said Western sanctions could lead to the seizure of Russian vessels. The remarks came from Nikolai Patrushev. He accused Western countries of acting like “pirates.” Patrushev said Moscow could respond with naval force if actions against Russian shipping continue. He added that concern inside the Kremlin is growing.
Kremlin Warning Over Sanctions and Shipping Seizures
Patrushev said Russia must be ready to deploy its navy to protect merchant ships. He highlighted vessels carrying oil, grain, and fertilizer. According to him, these cargoes are vital for keeping Russia’s economy running. He added that they also help supply global markets with essential goods. The Kremlin strongly supports this position.
Patrushev warned that the United Kingdom, France, and the Baltic states are becoming more aggressive toward Russian shipping. He said Moscow must respond firmly. Otherwise, Western countries could try to block Russia’s access to major sea routes. He pointed especially to the Atlantic Ocean. The Kremlin sees such a move as unacceptable.
Calling the navy the “best guarantor of navigation safety,” Patrushev described recent Western actions as “piracy-like attacks” that threaten freedom of navigation. He accused the West of deliberately targeting one of Russia’s most important economic sectors, as shipping plays a key role in exporting energy and agricultural products amid heavy sanctions imposed on the Kremlin.
Patrushev claimed that Western navies are rapidly modernizing and using “gunboat diplomacy,” pointing to U.S. naval actions involving Venezuela and Iran as examples of how governments use military power to enforce political aims, a view the Kremlin often echoes.
Shadow Fleet Claims and High-Profile Ship Detentions
The dispute centers on what Western governments call Russia’s “shadow fleet,” a network of oil tankers and merchant ships that the West claims helps Moscow bypass sanctions imposed after its invasion of Ukraine. Western officials say these vessels often have unclear ownership, change flags frequently, or operate without proper insurance. Russia rejects these accusations, with the Kremlin insisting its ships are being unfairly targeted.
In January, United States special forces seized a Russian-flagged oil tanker named Marinera in the North Atlantic after a weeks-long pursuit. U.S. authorities said the vessel violated sanctions linked to Venezuela and described the action as a legal enforcement measure. Russia’s Ministry of Transport condemned the seizure, calling it a breach of international maritime law.
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Around the same time, French authorities boarded another tanker, Grinch, in the Mediterranean Sea between Spain and Morocco. France said the ship was part of Russia’s shadow fleet and had started its journey in Russia.
The tanker was escorted to a port near Marseille and held for about three weeks. France later released the vessel after its owner paid a multimillion-euro fine, saying that bypassing European sanctions carries serious consequences.
NATO Fears and Baltic Sea Tensions
Patrushev also voiced concerns about NATO, claiming the alliance is planning a naval blockade of Russia’s Baltic Sea exclave of Kaliningrad. Kaliningrad is a strategically important Russian territory located between Poland and Lithuania, both NATO members. He said Moscow sees such plans as a deliberate effort by European countries to provoke military escalation.
Patrushev said these actions test Russia’s patience and push it toward retaliation. He warned that if diplomacy fails, Russia will use its navy to break any blockade, showing that Moscow is ready to use force to protect its maritime access.
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Russia has repeatedly accused Western countries of piracy. In September 2025, French authorities detained the Boracay, a Russian-linked ship claiming to sail under a Benin flag. President Vladimir Putin condemned the detention as piracy. The ship’s Chinese captain is due to stand trial in France next week.
At the same time, the European Union has expanded sanctions by listing 598 vessels suspected of belonging to Russia’s shadow fleet. European authorities have banned these ships from ports and maritime services, showing how shipping has become a key battleground in the Russia–West conflict.