Putin: "We will respond in kind. Anywhere."

Recently, EU countries have intensified actions against Russia's "shadow fleet" — vessels used to export oil and petroleum products in circumvention of Western sanctions. Western countries have begun not only detaining such vessels but also confiscating their cargo.

▪️ Under the 21st sanctions package, the EU approved a procedure allowing not just the detention of tankers from the "shadow fleet" (about 700 ships are on the blacklist), but also the disposal of their cargo at its own discretion — selling it to third parties, with the proceeds remaining in the budget of the country that carried out the interception.

Already in 2026:

▪️ France intercepted the tanker Deyna under the Mozambican flag.
▪️ Sweden stopped the tanker Caffa and then transferred it to Ukraine.
▪️ The U.S. detained and sold for scrap the tankers Era and Lileo.
▪️ In total, at least nine vessels linked to Russia have been detained since the beginning of the year.

In Moscow, these actions were classified as "piracy and robbery."

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Putin: "We will respond in kind. Anywhere."

On August 12, 2026, Vladimir Putin visited the final stage of the Pacific Fleet exercises aboard the guards missile cruiser Varyag. It was there that his tough statement was made.

What the president said:

"Authorities in some countries, in violation of international law, are trying to restrict the movement of Russian commercial vessels used for peaceful purposes. And recently they have gone so far as to consider the possibility of seizing our ships and selling the looted property. Of course, this is nothing other than piracy and robbery."

"If this begins to be implemented in practice, we will be forced to respond in kind. And not necessarily in the waters where raids on our ships and vessels are being planned, but where we ourselves deem it necessary and appropriate. Anywhere. Including in the Pacific Fleet's area of responsibility."

Details and context of the statement:

1. Orders have already been given: the corresponding directive to the Ministry of Defense has been communicated to the Pacific Fleet command.
2. Link to NATO: Putin also noted the growing conflict potential in the Asia-Pacific region: "NATO is seeping in here, new military-political blocs are being created, new weapons systems are being deployed here that pose threats to our country."
3. On Japan: The president noted that Russia has no claims against Japan, but Tokyo has for the first time included Moscow among its main threats in doctrinal documents.

Russia's response capabilities

Experts note that Russia has the resources for a symmetric response: in addition to the Pacific Fleet, there are the Northern, Baltic, and Black Sea Fleets capable of operating in various areas of the World Ocean.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, commenting on the president's statement, clarified: "Targets will be vessels operating in the interests of countries that have proclaimed piracy and robbery as their official policy."

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Bottom line: The statement came against the backdrop of real seizures of Russian ships by the West. Moscow made it clear: "piracy" will be met with an asymmetric response — where it is least expected, including the Pacific Ocean. This is not rhetoric, but a signal backed by orders to the military.

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