Russia may arm its ‘shadow fleet’ tankers against naval drones
Nikolai Patrushev (Photo: scrf.gov.ru)
The Kremlin could soon equip its sanction-busting “shadow
fleet” tankers with weapons to defend against Ukrainian
drone attacks, Nikolai Patrushev, an aide to dictator Vladimir Putin, told
propaganda outlet Kommersant on March 18.
In the interview, Patrushev (who previously served as FSB chief and Security Council secretary) said Moscow was considering the measure after its LNG tanker Arctic Metagaz began drifting in the Mediterranean Sea following a drone attack. Russia has blamed Ukraine for the attack; Patrushev called it “an international terrorist act.”
Patrushev warned the risk of attacks on Russian vessels at sea remains high and said Russia plans to take a “set of security measures” to protect its fleet. He said Western countries had launched an “unprecedented campaign” against shipments from Russian ports and that Russia must respond.
He also said Moscow is weighing the deployment of “armed mobile groups” and warships to escort ships flying the Russian flag if captains request protection.
“We increasingly see that political, diplomatic, and legal means do not always work against the West’s campaign aimed at the Russian fleet,” Patrushev said.
“We will take new measures if new threats appear at sea.”
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