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Russia Weighs Arming Grain Ships With Machine Guns and Missile Launchers
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Russian authorities are considering a plan to equip civilian grain carriers operating in the Sea of Azov with military-grade defensive equipment, including heavy machine guns and mobile missile launchers, as Ukrainian drone attacks continue to disrupt one of the country’s key export routes.
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According to Bloomberg on July 28, Russian authorities are discussing new measures to protect commercial shipping in the Sea of Azov.
Citing people familiar with the talks, the outlet reported that Russia’s Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Transport, and Federal Agency for Sea and River Transport are holding discussions with grain traders and shipowners over proposals to strengthen the security of civilian vessels.
The talks come after shipping from Russian ports in the Sea of Azov was suspended about two weeks ago following repeated strikes on ports, merchant vessels, and other maritime infrastructure.
According to documents reviewed by Bloomberg, the recommendations include temporarily reinforcing bulk carriers with armor plating, sandbags, anti-drone mesh, and prepared mounting points for heavy machine guns.
Under the proposed arrangement, military personnel armed with Kalashnikov rifles would board vessels before departure, while heavy machine guns fitted with thermal or night-vision sights would be installed for the initial stage of each voyage. The soldiers, along with the weapons and ammunition, would reportedly disembark after ships pass through the Kerch Strait.
Bloomberg also reported that Russian officials are discussing escorting grain convoys between the Sea of Azov and the Black Sea with naval patrol boats. Shipowners and grain traders would be responsible for financing both the vessel modifications and the military protection, according to people familiar with the negotiations.
The proposals follow growing disruptions to Russia’s grain exports. The Sea of Azov typically handles around one-quarter of the country’s grain shipments, making it a strategically important export corridor.
Market research firm SovEcon estimates that Russia could lose between 500,000 and 1.5 million metric tons of grain exports per month if shipping restrictions in the Sea of Azov continue.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov addressed the issue on July 28, acknowledging legal limitations on arming civilian vessels.
Bloomberg noted that while Peskov acknowledged that installing weapons on civilian vessels is prohibited by international law, he did not specifically comment on the proposed military escorts.
In June, Estonian border guards recorded what was believed to be the first known case of a Russian civilian ship carrying a heavy machine gun, after a Gazprom LNG tanker was spotted with a Kord weapon mounted on board while transiting the Gulf of Finland, according to Eesti Ekspress and Helsingin Sanomat.
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