Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned that Russia will react if Western countries try to seize Russian merchant ships.

The statement was made on Wednesday from Sakhalin Island, where Putin is conducting military exercises. The Kremlin leader said that some countries are trying to restrict the movement of Russian ships and warned that any seizure would be met with reciprocal measures.

According to Putin, Moscow's response would not necessarily be limited to the same maritime areas where the West might intervene, but could also extend to other areas of the world, including the Pacific Ocean.

The threat comes at a time of rising tensions over Russian shipping and ships linked to the so-called “shadow fleet.” Moscow has previously warned that seizing Russian ships could trigger countermeasures against Western naval vessels.

Putin has presented the issue as an attempt to restrict Russia's freedom of navigation and trade interests, while Western countries link the detention of several ships to the implementation of sanctions against Moscow.