Russian LNG Carrier Spotted with Machine Guns on Bridge Roof in Baltic Sea
Estonia has released images showing machine guns and sandbags mounted on a Russian-flagged liquefied natural gas carrier, Marshal Vasilevskiy, in the Baltic Sea this spring. The move signals a more confrontational stance by Moscow in protecting its civilian fleet.
The surveillance images show fortified machine gun positions on the bridge roof of the Marshal Vasilevskiy, a civilian vessel whose home port is Kaliningrad. According to Yoruk Isik, a geopolitical analyst who runs the Bosphorus Observer consultancy, this development marks a “hostile move by Russia to send a message to EU and NATO nations that it will actively oppose any attempt to detain or inspect its ships.”
“This is a crazy new step for civilian vessels in the Baltic,” Isik said. “There is no justification for self-defense posture like a machine gun in the Baltic… This clearly shows that the high seas are becoming increasingly lawless.”
The Marshal Vasilevskiy, owned by Gazprom unit Gazprom Flot LLC, has transported LNG to Kaliningrad from a port near St. Petersburg four times since the start of 2025, most recently in May, according to LSEG ship tracking data. The route runs along Estonia’s coastline.
Sanctions and Seizures: A Growing Concern
Nine suspected shadow fleet oil tankers – vessels linked to Russia with opaque ownership and sailing under flags of convenience to skirt Western sanctions since the start of the war in Ukraine – have been seized across Europe since the start of the year, most recently by France on June 26. The Marshal Vasilevskiy was sanctioned by the United Kingdom in October 2024, by Canada in February 2025, and Australia in December 2025. Gazprom Flot was sanctioned by the EU in April.
A Baltic security official said that the vessel is unlikely to be seized, as it does not fall into the shadow fleet category and sails under the Russian flag. “It’s hard to say what the Russians are thinking,” the official said. “Since the Baltic Sea became a NATO lake, Russians have been stressed about anything that is going on over there – so maybe they are just overthinking and overreacting.”
Russia’s Military Presence in the Baltic
In April, Estonian Navy Commander Ivo Vark told Reuters that Russia is increasing its military presence in the international waters between Estonia and Finland – the access route to the ports around St. Petersburg, where a significant share of Russia’s energy exports is loaded. Vark said that Estonia had stopped attempting to detain Russia-linked vessels, citing concerns about potential escalation.
The development comes as tensions between Russia and Western nations continue to escalate over Ukraine and other issues. The Baltic Sea has become a key battleground in this conflict, with both sides vying for control of the region’s shipping lanes and energy exports.
Original Article: Estonia images show machine guns on Russian LNG carrier in Baltic | Arab News — Arabnews