Russia slams Britain's intention to seize its vessels in UK waters as 'deeply hostile step'

Foreign Ministry says Moscow will use all political, legal, and other instruments at its disposal to protect its interests

Moscow on Thursday slammed the British government's intention to seize Russian commercial vessels in British territorial waters, calling it a "deeply hostile step against Russia" and warning of a response. The Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement that London "tried to convince us that it is not interested in escalation" and denied involvement in strikes on Bryansk despite Kyiv using British missiles against civilians, but the facts suggest otherwise. "The British government has announced yet another deeply hostile step against Russia—its intention to seize commercial vessels associated with our country in British territorial waters," it said. Earlier on Thursday, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer authorized British military personnel to detain vessels in the kingdom's waters that London classifies as part of the so-called shadow fleet. According to the office of the head of the British government, following the detention of a vessel, criminal cases may be initiated against its owners, operators, and crew for violating British sanctions legislation. The UK has imposed sanctions on 544 vessels of the so-called shadow fleet, allegedly associated with the Russian Federation. The Russian Foreign Ministry statement said, regardless of legal pretenses, Britain's sanctions are unilateral acts of piracy aimed at harming Russia, but they will ultimately hurt countries in urgent need of energy resources. "Reckless statements about intentions to attack Russian commercial vessels directly indicate a desire to further inflame the already tense situation in the areas of security and international trade. This cannot be denied," it said. The stated goals and the timing chosen for the announcement "leave no doubt" that the escalation of Ukrainian attacks on Russian energy infrastructure did not occur without the involvement of the British side, the ministry said. "Such actions have consequences. Navigation is becoming unsafe in British waters, where any vessel may fall victim to pirate seizure. Russia will use all political, legal, and other instruments at its disposal, including asymmetric ones, to protect our interests," it said.