Russia to Arm Shadow Fleet as Europe Steps Up Tanker Seizures

Russia is preparing to deploy armed security teams aboard vessels sailing under its flag, introducing a new layer of protection for maritime operations amid rising pressure on its shipping network.

The move was announced by Nikolai Patrushev, a senior Russian official overseeing maritime policy, according to Russian media outlet Interfax on March 25.

Patrushev said the initiative is a response to what Moscow describes as increasing interference with its maritime trade, including inspections and detentions of vessels transporting goods linked to Russia.

The newly proposed “mobile fire groups” are intended to provide rapid response capabilities in the event of attempted seizures or attacks on Russian-linked ships in international waters.

The development comes as Russia has already taken steps to bolster security across its so-called “shadow fleet”—a network of vessels widely used to transport oil and other cargo while navigating sanctions.

In recent months, reports have indicated that individuals with military or intelligence backgrounds have been placed aboard some of these ships under the guise of security personnel.

These onboard teams are believed to serve not only defensive roles but also as a communication link between civilian vessels and Russian military forces, particularly in regions where Moscow has increased its naval presence, including the Baltic Sea.

“We see that personnel from private military companies, including security coordinators, are operating on board these ships. But precisely because these are private entities, they cannot be separated from the state in Russia’s case,” an intelligence source told Swedish broadcaster SVT.

In addition, European states started to actively intercept vessels under sanctions. For example, France has detained the Deyna tanker in the Mediterranean, a vessel linked to the so-called “shadow fleet.”

According to France’s maritime prefecture, the tanker was flying the flag of Mozambique and was en route from the Russian port of Murmansk.

Another case included the Swedish Coast Guard taking control of a suspected stateless vessel in Swedish waters of the Baltic Sea, marking the second such incident in less than a week.

The 228-meter-long tanker, Sea Owl I, was flying the Comorian flag but is suspected of sailing under a false flag.

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