Key facts
- Estonia released images showing machine guns and sandbags on the Russian-flagged LNG carrier Marshal Vasilevskiy in the Baltic Sea.
- The vessel, owned by Gazprom Flot LLC, has made multiple trips to Kaliningrad along Estonia's coastline.
- The Marshal Vasilevskiy has previously been sanctioned by the UK, Canada, and Australia.
- Gazprom Flot LLC, a unit of Gazprom, was sanctioned by the EU in April.
- Estonian officials noted an increase in Russian military presence in the region.
Estonia has released surveillance images depicting machine guns and sandbags mounted on the bridge roof of the Marshal Vasilevskiy, a Russian-flagged liquefied natural gas carrier operating in the Baltic Sea this spring. The images, taken within Estonia's area of responsibility, suggest a more assertive posture by Russia in safeguarding its civilian maritime assets.
According to Yoruk Isik, a geopolitical analyst, the fortification of a civilian vessel in the Baltic is an unusual and "crazy new step," interpreting it as a hostile message from Russia to EU and NATO nations, signaling an intent to actively oppose any attempts to detain or inspect its ships. He further stated that the high seas are becoming increasingly lawless.
The Marshal Vasilevskiy, owned by Gazprom Flot LLC, has transported LNG to Kaliningrad from a port near St. Petersburg four times since the beginning of 2025, with its most recent trip in May occurring along Estonia's coastline. Nikolai Patrushev, an aide to Russian President Vladimir Putin, emphasized the importance of maintaining the Russian fleet's combat readiness and its ability to counter threats, particularly in the Baltic and Black Seas, which handle the majority of Russia's maritime trade.
This development occurs amidst a backdrop of increased seizures of Russian-linked vessels in Europe. Nine suspected shadow fleet oil tankers have been seized across Europe since the start of the year. While the Marshal Vasilevskiy itself has been sanctioned by the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia, and its owner Gazprom Flot by the EU, a Baltic security official indicated the vessel was unlikely to be seized as it does not fit the shadow fleet category and sails under the Russian flag. This official speculated that Russia might be overreacting due to the Baltic Sea's increasing integration into NATO.
In April, Estonian Navy Commander Ivo Vark had noted an increase in Russia's military presence in international waters between Estonia and Finland, a key route for Russian energy exports. Vark also stated that Estonia had ceased attempts to detain Russia-linked vessels posing no immediate danger due to the high risk of military escalation. The Marshal Vasilevskiy, inaugurated in January 2019, serves as a backup gas supply route for the Kaliningrad exclave.