Russia Arms LNG Carrier in the Baltic Sea
Russia has taken the unprecedented step of arming a civilian gas tanker with heavy machine guns in the Baltic Sea, according to an investigation by the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) and several European media partners.
Investigation Findings
Surveillance photographs taken by the Estonian Police and Border Guard Board in May show two 12.7 mm Kord heavy machine guns mounted in sandbagged firing positions on either side of the bridge of the Gazprom-owned LNG carrier Marshal Vasilevskiy as it transited the Baltic.
The vessel is a strategic asset for Russia, supplying liquefied natural gas between the mainland port of Bolshoy Bor and the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad, which is sandwiched between NATO members Poland and Lithuania.
Military Presence Onboard
Investigators also identified at least 22 individuals aboard the ship with backgrounds in the Russian military, Federal Security Service (FSB), National Guard or defence ministry. Passenger manifests reviewed by reporters showed several military-linked personnel repeatedly travelling on the vessel, suggesting the armed positions may be manned by trained operators rather than civilian crew.
Rising Tensions in the Baltic
The findings come as tensions continue to rise across the Baltic, where NATO states have stepped up surveillance of Russian shipping following a series of sanctions enforcement actions and suspected acts of maritime sabotage.
Key Points:
- Russia has armed a civilian gas tanker with machine guns in the Baltic Sea.
- The vessel is a strategic asset for Russia, supplying liquefied natural gas to Kaliningrad.
- At least 22 individuals with military backgrounds were identified aboard the ship.
- Tensions are rising in the Baltic due to increased NATO surveillance and suspected maritime sabotage.