Estonia Finds 2 Heavy Machine Guns on Russian LNG Carrier as Shadow Fleet Militarizes
Updated
Updated · Defense Express · Jul 1
Estonia Finds 2 Heavy Machine Guns on Russian LNG Carrier as Shadow Fleet Militarizes
3 articles · Updated · Defense Express · Jul 1
Summary
Estonian border authorities found two heavy machine guns and prepared firing positions aboard the Russian LNG carrier Marshal Vasilevskiy, according to Ukraine's Center for Countering Disinformation.
At least half the vessel's recent personnel were current or former members of Russia's FSB, National Guard or armed forces, a crew mix the report said exceeds normal commercial shipping needs.
The findings add to warnings that Russia is using its sanctions-busting shadow fleet not only to move energy exports but also to support security or military tasks.
That overlap between civilian cargo shipping and state-linked force projection is raising concern that shadow-fleet vessels could be used to threaten European security.