Russia Warns of Firm Response to Britain’s Plans to Intercept Ships

Kathmandu — Russia has warned of a strong response following Britain’s preparations to seize and intercept sanctioned vessels. Russian Ambassador to the United Kingdom Andrey Kelin, in an interview with the Russian media outlet Izvestia, expressed serious objections to London’s plans and made it clear that Moscow would take necessary countermeasures.

According to Kelin, Russian oil tankers will now be accompanied by security vessels, and the option of temporarily closing certain maritime areas to shipping remains open. He said these measures are necessary precautions to ensure the safety of Russian vessels.

Earlier, reports emerged that the British government had prepared a legal framework to seize ships falling under sanctions. Analysts say this move signals a new escalation that could further strain international maritime traffic and diplomatic relations.

Experts believe that Britain may not be able to carry out such actions on its own and would likely need to conduct joint operations with other countries. On the other hand, they assess that Russia possesses sufficient capability to prevent potential attacks and respond effectively.

Kelin claimed that the main objective behind Britain’s tougher policy stance is to derail a new round of negotiations aimed at resolving the Ukraine conflict. “This is a deliberate escalation of instability, the consequences of which for international law and global trade could be extremely serious,” he said.

He warned that such actions could lead to rising prices for raw materials and consumer goods, higher insurance costs for ships, and an increased presence of security vessels at sea.