Putin threatens symmetric retaliation if EU seizes Russian vessels, warns NATO in Pacific

Putin's warning from the Pacific Fleet

Russian President Vladimir Putin warned on August 12 that Russia would respond symmetrically if European countries seize Russian merchant vessels, calling the measures "piracy and banditry." Speaking aboard the missile cruiser Varyag, flagship of Russia's Pacific Fleet, off Sakhalin island during the final phase of naval exercises, Putin said any retaliation would not be confined to the waters where Russian ships were seized. He stated that Russia would act "wherever we deem it necessary and appropriate, anywhere, including the zone of responsibility of the Pacific Fleet."

The authorities of certain countries, in violation of international maritime law, are trying to restrict the freedom of movement of ships of our economic actors, even peaceful ships, and have recently even considered seizing our ships and selling the goods they have stolen from us. This is of course nothing but piracy and robbery. And should this be put into practice, we will be forced to repay in kind.

European actions against the shadow fleet

Sweden and France have boarded vessels accused of belonging to Russia's so-called shadow fleet, used by Moscow to circumvent Western sanctions imposed since its large-scale offensive in Ukraine. New EU sanctions approved at the end of July 2026 open the way for the sale of seized oil or goods from these ships, targeting an important source of revenue for Russia. Sweden decided to hand over to Ukraine a Russian shadow fleet cargo vessel seized in early March, which according to Kyiv was carrying stolen Ukrainian wheat from occupied territories. France seized the tanker "Deyna" in the Mediterranean in March 2026, suspecting it of belonging to the shadow fleet. Many of these tankers operate under changing or allegedly false flags.

NATO accusations and Pacific tensions

Putin also accused NATO of infiltrating the Asia-Pacific region and creating tension in the Arctic. He claimed the conflict potential in the Pacific region is growing, citing the formation of new military-political blocs and the deployment of new weapons systems that pose a threat to Russia, in reference to US-Japan agreements.

NATO is making inroads into the region, new military-political blocs are being formed, and new weapons systems that pose a threat to Russia are being deployed or are slated for deployment.

Japan has long reported intensifying Russian military activity around its territory and considers Russia-China military cooperation an additional risk factor. Putin, however, stated that Russia "does not represent a threat to Japan" and has "absolutely no" such intentions. He also reiterated Russia's readiness to cooperate in the Arctic and on the Northern Sea Route within the framework of existing international maritime law.

Pacific Fleet exercises

The naval exercises, which began on August 4, involve approximately 60 Russian ships, submarines and supply vessels, around 30 aircraft, helicopters and drones, and more than 13,000 soldiers training to defend Russian sea borders, island territories and coastlines. Putin observed the final phase from the Varyag off Sakhalin in Russia's Far East, after speaking at Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk. The exercises come at a time of heightened friction between Moscow and European countries over controls on suspicious vessels, which has become one of the new points of tension between Russia and European states in recent months.