Russia has delivered a stern warning to Western nations, with a prominent politician stating that they are ready to retaliate. Alexey Zhuravlev, a nationalist figure and close ally of Vladimir Putin, proposed that Russia should designate its commercial ships as military assets. This move would classify any action against these ships by Western forces as a declaration of full-scale military conflict, according to Zhuravlev.
This development follows recent encounters where American, French, and British military units have targeted Russian oil tankers linked to Putin’s alleged ‘shadow fleet’ in an effort to enforce sanctions. Zhuravlev, in a post on Telegram, outlined aggressive strategies to safeguard Russia’s maritime trade, expressing concerns over the escalating attacks on their vessels. He suggested arming each ship with long-range machine guns to deter potential threats.
Zhuravlev also suggested the formal militarization of Russia’s commercial fleet, emphasizing that any assault on these vessels would trigger a significant military response. He warned Western nations that if provoked, Russia could impose sanctions on their cargo ships, seize their goods, and retaliate in kind. The recent months have witnessed a surge in attacks, seizures, and sanctions enforcement against Russia’s maritime cargo, particularly targeting vessels associated with the ‘shadow fleet.’
Western countries including Germany, France, and Finland have intensified their efforts to enforce sanctions, resulting in the detention and fines of numerous tankers suspected of evading restrictions. The EU, UK, and US have collectively blacklisted hundreds of ships involved in illicit activities. Zhuravlev recently highlighted Russia’s formidable weapons capabilities, claiming that non-nuclear weapons could potentially cause catastrophic damage to adversaries. He underscored the importance of focusing on non-nuclear capabilities, citing the effectiveness of hypersonic missiles like the Oreshnik in modern warfare.
