Russian Navy Ready to Break Through Western Maritime Blockades

Nikolai Patrushev, aide to the President of Russia and chairman of the Maritime Board, outlined what he described as serious risks to Russia's maritime trade. The Russian Navy remains prepared to defend sea lines of communication, he said in an interview with Arguments and Facts. In addition, the Russian Navy is ready to take action to break a blockade if need be. Naval Protection of Maritime Routes "NATO's plans include scenarios involving the blockade of the Kaliningrad region, the seizure of merchant vessels, and acts of sabotage against underwater infrastructure, after which they would cynically blame Russia. If peaceful solutions fail, the Navy will break and eliminate the blockade,” Patrushev said. He argued that substantial naval forces should maintain a permanent presence along key maritime corridors, including regions far from Russian territory. Such deployments, he noted, would deter what he called "Western privateers.”