Russian LNG Tanker Armed in Baltic, NATO Reassesses
The Times says Russia armed the LNG tanker Marshal Vasilevsky with heavy machine guns in the Baltic Sea, forcing NATO to reassess boarding risks.
Russia has installed heavy machine guns on one of its liquefied natural gas tankers operating in the Baltic Sea, according to The Times. The vessel in question is the Marshal Vasilevsky.
The newspaper cited photographs taken by Estonian border guards. It noted that the images mark the first such demonstration of protection for energy cargoes in the region.
A European intelligence official told the publication that the activity is being assessed as Russia working through measures to protect its energy shipments in the Baltic Sea.
The Times also reported that, in recent months, the tanker’s crew included specialists with experience in Russian security agencies, including the Federal Security Service.
According to the newspaper, the 12.7 mm Kord heavy machine guns installed on board could serve as a deterrent against possible attempts by European Union countries to inspect Russian vessels. The article noted that European states had previously detained tankers carrying Russian fuel as part of their sanctions policy.
Experts cited by The Times believe that if reports of armed vessels spread, risk assessments for boarding operations could change sharply.
It remains unclear whether the practice is an isolated case or part of a broader Russian approach. The Marshal Vasilevsky sails under the Russian flag and is not officially part of the so-called shadow fleet. Still, the published photographs alone have already forced NATO to take this factor into account.