Vladimir Putin deploys the Admiral Kasatonov frigate to the Baltic Sea to signal potential retaliation against Western vessels.
Vladimir Putin has deployed the Admiral Kasatonov frigate, one of Russia's most advanced warships, to the Baltic Sea off the German island of Fehmarn. The frigate, commissioned in 2020, is a modern Admiral Gorshkov-class vessel capable of launching Kalibr, Zircon, and Oniks missiles. This deployment follows a series of Western operations against Russia's shadow fleet—a network of aging tankers used to move sanctioned oil. Russia has threatened to take "mirror measures" against British and EU vessels that attempt to seize Russia-linked ships, with Vladimir Putin describing such actions as "piracy and robbery." Deputy Chairman of Russia's Security Council, Dmitry Medvedev, also asserted Moscow's right to strike merchant ships of enemy states. Maritime security expert Moritz Brake warned that Moscow is strategically trying to create uncertainty and increase the costs of Western measures. European intelligence services believe Russia may be preparing hybrid attacks against Poland and the Polish and Baltic states to further intimidate countries supporting Ukraine.