Pointing to recent BRICS joint naval exercises, Nikolai Patrushev, Russian presidential aide and chairman of the Russian Maritime Board, said in an interview with the Argumenti i Fakti (aif.ru) news outlet: “The fleets practiced cooperation in protecting trade routes, which are currently becoming increasingly vulnerable, including in the face of Western piracy.” This refers to increasing Western seizure of tankers and other vessels of the so-called “Russian shadow fleet,” justified by the sanctions against Russia. .