A top Russian official warned that Moscow might deploy its navy to protect ships linked to its so-called 'shadow fleet' from European seizures. Nikolai Patrushev, former FSB director and head of Russia's maritime board, said the navy must be ready to counter what he called “western piracy.” He stated, “If this situation cannot be resolved peacefully, the navy will break any blockade and move to eliminate it.” He also warned, “many vessels sail the seas under European flags – we, too, may take an interest in what they are carrying and where they are headed.” Patrushev labeled any maritime blockade on Russia as illegal under international law and dismissed the EU’s term “shadow fleet” as having no legal basis. The shadow fleet is made up of about 1,500 old or lightly regulated oil tankers helping Russia export crude, mainly to China and India, while dodging Western sanctions. Over 600 of these ships face sanctions from the EU, UK, and US, cutting into Russian oil income. Patrushev’s remarks came as British Defence Secretary John Healey met European officials at the Munich Security Conference to discuss ways to seize these tankers. Despite political pressure, Europe has struggled legally to physically stop or confiscate the ships, relying instead on sanctions and inspections. Western allies noted that ships without valid documentation could be treated as stateless, allowing wider intervention. Earlier this year, the French navy briefly stopped a suspected shadow fleet tanker but later let it go. The US has seized several tankers linked to shadow fleets from Russia, Venezuela, and Iran. Patrushev focused his warning mainly on Europe, showing caution towards the US amid ongoing Ukraine talks. Senior Ukrainian and Russian officials are set to meet in Geneva on Tuesday for new peace talks as the fourth anniversary of Russia’s invasion approaches.