One of Vladimir Putin's allies has issued a threat to Britain and its allies amid the seizure of ships.

13:21, Tue, Feb 17, 2026 Updated: 13:21, Tue, Feb 17, 2026

Nikolai Patrushev pictured in sunglasses

Nikolai Patrushev is one of Vladimir Putin's closest allies (Image: Getty)

One of Vladimir Putin's close allies has issued a threat to Britain and its allies over the seizure of ships from Russia's shadow fleet of oil transporters. Nikolai Patrushev, chairman of the Kremlin's Maritime Board, named the countries he believes need "a tough rebuff" and have been "testing the limits of our patience". He told the Russian media outlet Argumenty i Fakty: "If we don't give them a tough rebuff, then soon the British, French and even the Balts [Baltic states] will become arrogant to such an extent that they will try to block our country's access to the seas at least in the Atlantic basin."

He added: "In the main maritime areas, including regions far from Russia, substantial forces must be permanently deployed - forces capable of cooling the ardour of Western pirates. Any attempt at a naval blockade of our country is completely illegal from the standpoint of international law, and the concept of a 'shadow fleet', which EU representatives brandish at every turn, is a legal fiction."

US Coast Guard escorting oil tanker

Vessels thought to be part of Russia's so-called shadow fleet have been siezed (Image: HANDOUT/AFP via Getty Images)

Patrushev added in a chilling warning: "By implementing their naval blockade plans, the Europeans are deliberately pursuing a scenario of military escalation, testing the limits of our patience and provoking active retaliatory measures."

He then suggested that if a "peaceful resolution" fails, the "blockade will be broken and eliminated by the navy".

It comes after the UK was warned that its actions would "not go unpunished" should it intercept Russian vessels.

The Russian Ambassador to the UK, Andrey Kelin, told Izvestia that this would effectively mean a return to the age of piracy.

He said: "What politicians in London are talking about is essentially a return to the era of the pirate Edward Teach, known as Blackbeard.

"What they forget is that Britain has long ceased to be the ‘ruler of the seas,’ and its actions will not go unpunished."

Should an incident occur during which a crew member of a ship or any armed forces of a NATO member come to harm, a wider conflict could be triggered.

Britain must “go faster” on defence spending, the Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, has said.

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The Labour leader has already committed to increasing defence spending to 2.5% of GDP next year and 3% after the next election.

But he is now thought to be mulling bringing forward the 3% target to 2029, after the head of the UK’s armed forces set out the “moral” case for rearmament.