NATO on Alert as Russian Warship Anchors Near Key Maritime Corridor in the Baltic

A large Russian Navy Baltic Fleet landing ship, the Alexander Shabalin, has anchored near the entrance to Lübeck Bay off the coast of Germany, Kieler Nachrichten reported on October 23.

According to the German outlet, the ship arrived in the area on October 19 and dropped anchor in a position that obstructs commercial vessels transiting the Fehmarn Belt strait—a key route linking the Baltic Sea to the North Sea.

The Russian landing ship is clearly visible from the German island of Fehmarn. German and Danish patrol vessels—the Bamberg and a Danish Navy ship—are currently monitoring its movements.

To strengthen oversight, the German Navy has also deployed the auxiliary ship Werra from Kiel.

German police said Alexander Shabalin remains outside the country’s territorial waters and is therefore not violating national or international maritime law.

However, Kieler Nachrichten noted that the presence of Russian naval vessels near Fehmarn has disrupted regional activity, complicating operations for both fishermen and scientific research missions.

Research vessels Alkor and Littorina, based in Kiel, were reportedly forced to alter their routes to avoid close proximity to the Russian warship.

Earlier, the United Kingdom and Germany joined forces to hunt Russian submarines in the North Atlantic, deepening defense cooperation under the Trinity House Agreement signed last year.

Directly support a drone unit

From donor to ally on the frontlines of combat

Download UNITED24 APP