Russian President Vladimir Putin warned that Moscow would "respond in kind" if Western countries continue detaining vessels linked to Russia's shadow fleet, as Britain defended its June seizure of the tanker Smyrtos in the English Channel as lawful under international law. Putin called the seizures "piracy" and said Russia could act "wherever we deem it necessary and appropriate," while UK authorities said captain Ajay Pant has been charged with breaching Russian sanctions by allegedly directly or indirectly supplying or delivering prohibited Russian oil. The dispute comes as the European Union expands enforcement against ships used to move sanctioned Russian oil, with more than 630 vessels sanctioned as of mid-August 2026 and nine shadow-fleet tankers seized around the bloc since the start of the year.