Russia has equipped the liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier Marshal Vasilevskiy with heavy machine guns, in a move that highlights the growing militarization of civilian vessels linked to the energy sector.
According to the Ukrainian outlet Militarnyi, the ship is responsible for supplying the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad, located between Poland and Lithuania in the Baltic Sea.
Photographs released by Estonian authorities show two machine guns mounted on the vessel’s superstructure. According to analysts, this is the first known case of a Russian civilian LNG carrier being equipped with this type of weaponry.
The decision comes months after the Russian vessel Arctic Metagaz was damaged by drones in the Mediterranean, an incident that heightened Moscow’s concerns about the security of its energy fleet.
The Marshal Vasilevskiy plays a strategic role for Russia by ensuring the supply of natural gas to Kaliningrad without relying on pipelines that cross NATO member states.
According to the British newspaper The Times, experts believe the weapons could be used against small vessels or drones at distances of around one kilometer.
In addition, the armament may also serve as a warning to discourage inspections or boarding attempts involving Russian ships amid tighter sanctions and increased European scrutiny of maritime transport linked to Moscow.
+ Russian destroyer Severomorsk escorts Putin’s yacht with anti-drone protection in the Baltic Sea
Photos: Estonian Police and Border Guard Board. This content was created with the assistance of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
