Russian Navy Ordered to Respond Decisively to Detention of Russian Tankers
Russian dictator Vladimir Putin instructed the command of the Russian Navy to respond “resolutely” to attempts by Western countries to detain Russian tankers. He made this statement during a meeting with the commanders of the Russian Navy.
According to Putin, the Russian military must act within the bounds of international maritime law, but “resolutely,” as in the fight against piracy. His statement came amid intensified actions by the European Union and the United Kingdom against Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet,” which is used to export oil, petroleum products, and liquefied natural gas in circumvention of sanctions.
EU Detains Five Russian Tankers Since January
On July 22, the EU’s foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, reported that EU countries had already detained five Russian tankers since the beginning of the year. According to her, the European Union is thus intensifying sanctions pressure on Moscow. The detention of these vessels has raised concerns about the potential impact on global energy supplies.
Russian Tankers Equipped with Large-Caliber Machine Guns
Against this backdrop, according to the British newspaper The Times, large-caliber machine guns have begun to be installed on some Russian tankers to make their potential detention more difficult. This move is seen as a response to the EU’s efforts to crack down on Russia’s “shadow fleet.”
EU Authorizes Member States to Sell Seized Oil and Cargo
In addition, as part of the 21st sanctions package, the EU has authorized member states to sell oil and other cargo seized from detained vessels subject to sanctions. The proceeds will not be transferred to Russian individuals or legal entities. This move is seen as a further attempt by the EU to weaken Russia’s ability to circumvent sanctions.
As a reminder, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that the Ukrainian Armed Forces struck four fuel infrastructure facilities in Russia’s Stavropol Krai and also hit three tankers belonging to Russia’s “shadow fleet” in the Black Sea. A series of attacks on oil tankers has been recorded in the Strait of Hormuz area; at least three vessels are on fire.
Original Article: Putin ordered the Russian Navy to respond decisively to the detention of Russian tankers — Ua