Russia is conducting a military operation in the Baltic Sea aimed at protecting its so-called shadow fleet — a network of ships used to circumvent international sanctions.
Naval officials say the operation includes Russian warships guarding certain areas of the Baltic Sea, as well as uniformed personnel stationed on board some shadow tankers.
“We have seen and received information that there are people in uniform on board some of these shadow fleet vessels,” said Marko Petkovic, head of the Swedish Navy’s operational command. He added that there is currently no cause for immediate concern.
The Swedish Navy also has information suggesting that some of the armed personnel in uniform may belong to private security companies.
Petkovic noted that Russia has been increasing its military surveillance and presence in the Baltic Sea for some time.
“The Russian navy is periodically present at various key points in the Baltic Sea, the Gulf of Finland, and the Western Sea, and appears to be supporting this shadow fleet in some way,” he said.
Daniel Stening, deputy chief of operations for the Swedish Coast Guard, said the reported military presence underscores the strategic importance of the shadow fleet for Moscow.
“We have not observed this directly ourselves, but we know that this activity is very important for Russia, so we assume that various security measures have been taken, and that such measures could well be in place,” Stening said.
On Dec. 15, the Council of the European Union imposed sanctions on five additional individuals and four organizations linked to support for Russia’s shadow fleet.