Russia threatens retaliation over maritime restrictions on shadow fleet
Russian President Vladimir Putin has issued a stern warning against international efforts to restrict the movement of Russian commercial vessels, labeling such actions as piracy and a violation of international maritime law. Speaking from a missile cruiser during military exercises in the Far East, Putin vowed that Russia would respond in kind to any restrictions placed on its shipping.
The tension follows recent actions by the European Union, specifically the EU naval mission Irini, which intercepted and inspected the sanctioned oil tanker Toa Payoh in the Mediterranean. The EU has sanctioned numerous vessels believed to be part of a Russian shadow fleet used to bypass Western oil export restrictions.
Viktor Liina, Commander of the Pacific Fleet, reinforced this stance, stating that the Russian Navy possesses the necessary resources to inspect and detain ships from unfriendly nations, noting that they are aware of the routes and ownership of these vessels.
Entities
European Union · Russian Navy · Toa Payoh · Viktor Liina · Vladimir Putin
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [● 3 SOURCES] The EU has sanctioned numerous ships identified as part of the Russian shadow fleet. www.wp.de · www.otz.de · www.abendblatt.de
- [● 3 SOURCES] Vladimir Putin accused certain countries of violating international maritime law by restricting the movement of Russian economic vessels. www.wp.de · www.otz.de · www.abendblatt.de
- [● 3 SOURCES] The EU naval mission Irini conducts inspections of merchant ships in international waters. www.wp.de · www.otz.de · www.abendblatt.de
- [● 3 SOURCES] Putin vowed that Russia would respond in kind to restrictions on its shipping. www.wp.de · www.otz.de · www.abendblatt.de
- [● 3 SOURCES] EU naval forces recently intercepted and inspected the sanctioned oil tanker Toa Payoh in the Mediterranean. www.wp.de · www.otz.de · www.abendblatt.de
- [● 3 SOURCES] Commander of the Pacific Fleet Viktor Liina stated the Russian Navy has the capability to inspect and detain ships from unfriendly countries. www.wp.de · www.otz.de · www.abendblatt.de