Kremlin Signals Naval Retaliation If Europe Seizes More Shadow Fleet Vessels

A Kremlin aide, Nikolai Patrushev, warned in an interview that Moscow could retaliate by deploying its navy if European raids on Russia’s shadow fleet intensify, signaling a potential blockade of sea access. European actions against hundreds of sanctioned shadow-fleet tankers have increased, including France’s seizure of the tanker GRINCH (later released after a fine), amid broader sanctions pressure and Ukrainian/U.S. maritime actions against Russian oil networks.