On a cold morning in London, Russian Kremlin aide Nikolay Patrushev, chairman of the Russian Maritime Board, said the United Kingdom and NATO appear to be planning sabotage operations against tanker vessels that carry Russian diesel to the United States.
Patrushev made the remarks in an interview with the Russian daily Rossiiskaya Gazeta, telling reporters that “they will be directed against the Russia‑US deal on diesel fuel supplies, which London does not approve of.” He added, “I have no doubt that sabotage against tankers carrying Russian diesel is already being prepared in British and NATO headquarters.”
In the same interview he noted that Moscow is monitoring the situation closely. Patrushev criticised what he described as Europeans “entangled in a corner with sanctions, geopolitical ventures and rampant Russophobia,” claiming they have burned all bridges and lack a clear way forward.
Patrushev also recalled a phone call between Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump on October 9, in which the leaders discussed “petroleum product supplies.” He said that Putin had reiterated Moscow’s readiness to supply oil and petroleum products to the United States and global markets.
Additionally, Russian deputy prime minister Alexander Novak said that Russia would lift its ban on diesel exports ahead of schedule and is ready to resume supply. Patrushev’s comments come amid ongoing tensions over energy supplies and sanctions imposed by Western governments on Russia.
