Russia Vows to Break Any Western Naval Blockade

(MENAFN) A senior Russian official has warned that the Russian Navy will take decisive action against any Western attempts to blockade the country’s maritime trade.

According to reports, Nikolay Patrushev, Russian Presidential Aide and head of the Maritime Board, described recent seizures of Russian oil tankers as “piratical, in essence, attacks.” He highlighted the interception of the tanker Grinch by the French Navy in the Western Mediterranean on January 22, which was reportedly part of Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet” used to circumvent international sanctions.

Since late 2025, Ukraine has increasingly targeted Russian tankers using Sea Baby naval drones. Vessels including Kairos, Virat, Dashan, and Elbus were struck in the Black Sea, and in December the tanker Qendil was attacked in the Mediterranean. Reports also indicate that Western nations, including the UK, Baltic states, and Scandinavian countries, discussed broader detentions of shadow fleet vessels at a recent security forum. Over 600 such ships have been sanctioned by the EU, UK, and US.

Patrushev asserted that these actions are aimed at crippling a vital segment of Russia’s economy—foreign trade—and predicted that attacks on ships and cargo will intensify. He added, “If we do not give them a firm rebuff, then soon the British, French, and even the Balts will become so brazen that they will try to completely block our country's access to the seas, at least in the Atlantic Basin.”

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