Photo: EPA
After a series of incidents involving Russian vessels and Western sanctions, the Kremlin is preparing a comprehensive system to protect its maritime trade.
Russia plans to introduce naval convoys to protect commercial ships, as well as install defensive equipment directly on board. In addition, the creation of armed escort teams for vessels flying the Russian flag is being considered. This was stated by Nikolai Patrushev, an advisor to Vladimir Putin and head of Russia’s Maritime Board, in an interview with Kommersant, according to Bloomberg.
Recently, ships linked to Russia have been increasingly involved in various incidents. Swedish authorities inspected a vessel suspected of belonging to the so-called “shadow fleet.” Earlier, Swedish border guards similarly stopped a grain carrier connected to Russia. In another case, a tanker transporting liquefied natural gas, which had been sanctioned by the United States, halted in the Mediterranean Sea after a nearby vessel was reportedly attacked by Ukrainian naval drones.
Patrushev acknowledged that current measures are insufficient, noting that political, diplomatic, and legal efforts to counter Western actions against Russian shipping are not always effective. He added that additional measures would be developed if new maritime threats from European countries arise.
According to him, Russia already has a range of security measures in place to protect shipping, including inspections of incoming vessels, though he did not provide details. He also stated that the Kremlin has studied the “America’s Maritime Action Plan” and intends to incorporate some of its concepts into future Russian shipbuilding legislation.
The “America’s Maritime Action Plan,” presented by the Trump administration in February 2025, aims to revive U.S. commercial shipbuilding and restore its position on global maritime trade routes.
Meanwhile, the European Union is considering revising maritime law to counter Russia’s shadow fleet. EU countries are seeking broader powers to inspect vessels. By 2026, countering the shadow fleet is evolving into a distinct area of security policy, no longer just about sanction evasion in individual voyages but about a broader infrastructure that generates revenue for the Russian regime, creates risks of maritime accidents, challenges international maritime law, and enables hybrid operations in a “gray zone.”
