The Russians don’t mess around. Remember when a Russian ambassador was held hostage in Lebanon in ‘85? The Russians launched counter measures and captured family members of the assailants, sending them family body parts by messenger. No more Russians were ever taken hostage.
Russians are Asians in their character. Some are blond and positively Nordic in aspect but they are Asians and they fight wars the way Asians fight wars. Their approach to little things like pirates and kidnappers is similar to the Sicilian model but a little heavier of hand.