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Sending the army into a foreign country to break someone out of jail would risk triggering a military conflictAuthor of the article: You can save this article by registering for free here. Or sign-in if you have an account.Russian President Vladimir Putin's speech is shown on a screen during the Victory Day military parade in Moscow on May 9, 2026. Photo by Igor Ivanko/AFP via Getty ImagesPresident Vladimir Putin signed a law allowing him to deploy the military to foreign countries to aid Russian citizens who’ve been detained or face prosecution.Enjoy the latest local, national and international news.Exclusive articles by Conrad Black, Barbara Kay and others. Plus, special edition NP Platformed and First Reading newsletters and virtual events.Unlimited online access to National Post.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.Support local journalism.Enjoy the latest local, national and international news.Exclusive articles by Conrad Black, Barbara Kay and others. Plus, special edition NP Platformed and First Reading newsletters and virtual events.Unlimited online access to National Post.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.Support local journalism.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one account.Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.Enjoy additional articles per month.Get email updates from your favourite authors.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one accountShare your thoughts and join the conversation in the commentsEnjoy additional articles per monthGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorThe powers can be used to protect Russians who’ve been arrested or face prosecution in foreign courts without Russia’s involvement, the Interfax news service reported Monday, citing the law. The armed forces could also be used in cases where Russians have been detained on orders of international judicial bodies whose jurisdiction isn’t recognized by Russia, it said.It’s not immediately clear in what circumstances the Kremlin would invoke the law. Sending the army into a foreign country to break someone out of jail would risk triggering a military conflict with that state.Get a dash of perspective along with the trending news of the day in a very readable format.By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder.The next issue of NP Posted will soon be in your inbox.We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try againRussia’s parliament adopted the law as Western governments stepped up efforts to curb Russia’s so-called shadow fleet carrying crude oil. Authorities in several European countries have moved to tighten checks on such vessels amid efforts to enforce sanctions against Russia over the war in Ukraine.Russia plans to provide naval convoys to protect merchant ships as it seeks to bolster the defence of the shadow fleet, presidential aide Nikolai Patrushev told the Kommersant newspaper in March.Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark nationalpost.com and sign up for our daily newsletter, Posted, here. Join the Conversation This website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. Read more about cookies here. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.