Russia Deploys Machine Guns on Civilian Gas Tanker in Baltic Sea

Photographic evidence confirms that the Russian gas carrier “Marshal Vasilevskiy” has been fitted with heavy machine guns, marking the first time such military equipment has been documented on a civilian vessel.

Documented Militarization of a Civilian Vessel

The Estonian Border Guard photographed the gas carrier “Marshal Vasilevskiy” in May as it transited past the Estonian coast toward a Russian port in the Gulf of Finland. According to the portal “The Baltic Flank,” images reveal two firing positions on the deck reinforced with sandbags, each housing 12.7 mm Kord heavy machine guns, which are standard Russian military equipment. Estonian diplomat Jonatan Vseviov shared these images on the social media platform X.

Intelligence Assessment of Russian Intentions

“The Baltic Flank” noted that this is the first time direct evidence of Russia arming a civilian ship has been published. An intelligence officer from a Baltic state suggested the weapons were installed as a defense against Ukrainian maritime drones and as a show of force directed at Western nations.

Military and Intelligence Ties Among Crew

Investigations by “The Baltic Flank” revealed that 50 individuals have served on the “Marshal Vasilevskiy” since August of last year. Reports indicate that nearly half of these crew members possess past ties to Russian military or intelligence services.

Estonian Naval Stance

Commander of the Estonian Navy Ivo Värk stated that should the Russian vessel open fire on a ship under a foreign flag, the Estonian military would be obligated to intervene and protect the targeted unit.