Tensions soar as Putin makes ‘piracy’ dig and threatens to seize UK ships

Vladimir Putin has threatened to seize British and European ships in retaliation over the interception of alleged Russian shadow fleet vessels. The UK and its European allies have interdicted a number of tankers suspected of helping to fund Moscow’s war on Ukraine by ferrying Russian oil while evading international sanctions.

Last month, the EU passed new sanctions allowing members to sell the oil or any other cargo seized from the vessels. Speaking while supervising naval exercises in eastern Russia, Mr Putin hit out at “piracy and robbery” from Britain and the EU. Dressed in naval uniform, the Russian leader said: “We can see that the ​authorities ⁠of certain countries, in violation of international maritime law, are attempting to restrict the movement of our economic operators’ vessels … and have recently gone so far ⁠as to consider the possibility of seizing our vessels and selling off the property ​they ⁠have plundered from us.

“Naturally, this ‌is nothing less than piracy and robbery. And if this begins to be put into practice, we shall be forced to respond in kind.

“And not necessarily in ‌those waters where raids on our ships and vessels are ‌planned, but wherever we ourselves deem it necessary and appropriate.”

Viktor Liina, commander of Russia’s Pacific Fleet, said his forces are ready to “inspect and detain” vessels from what he described as hostile states.

The ship was interdicted around 25 miles off the Isle of Wight in the first UK-led operation of its kind.

Britain had previously been accused of not doing enough to stop the sanctioned vessels.

It comes amid wider tensions between Russia and the West.

The First Sea Lord recently warned Russian incursions into British waters had soared by nearly a third in the last two years.