Russia Maritime Watch

Independent maritime intelligence on Russia's naval and commercial fleets. Providing strategic insights, movement tracking, and predictive OSINT reporting.

[Russia Maritime Watch @RFNOSBlog]

Photos reportedly taken in May 2026 by Estonian Border Guard personnel appear to show the Russian-flagged Marshal Vasilevskiy (Gazprom, IMO 9778313) fitted with protected positions housing 12.7 mm Kord heavy machine guns (effective range: approximately 2 km).

If confirmed, what might this indicate about evolving security measures on Russian state-linked vessels operating in the Baltic Sea? Is this an isolated case, or part of a broader pattern of increased defensive hardening? These are questions worth monitoring through open-source reporting as additional verified imagery and official information become available.

[Russian Forces Spotter @TiaFarris10]

🚨🚨🚨An armed 🇷🇺 Russian tanker in the Baltic Sea:

Photos taken in May 2026 by 🇪🇪 Estonian border guards show the Marshal Vasilevskiy (Gazprom, IMO 9778313), sailing under the 🇷🇺 Russian flag, equipped with 12.7 mm Kord machine guns (effective range: 2 km) mounted in protected positions.

⚠️This LNG FSRU, already subject to 🇪🇺🇬🇧🇺🇸 sanctions, is supplying 🇷🇺 Kaliningrad.

📡 This is the first documented evidence of an armed Russian civilian vessel operating in European waters.
Revealed today by @eestiekspress

[Russia Maritime Watch @RFNOSBlog]

@CeciliaSykala @malte_humpert @TiaFarris10 @auonsson Uaaa, tks big news.

[Russia Maritime Watch @RFNOSBlog]

Russian-flagged General Cargo Ship LADY D (IMO 9349289) is currently reported anchored off Famagusta after previous calls at Cochin and Mumbai.
The vessel has been linked in the past to Russian military logistics movements and the broader “Syrian Express” network, although no public information confirms its current mission.

With Russian maritime activity around the Eastern Mediterranean drawing renewed attention, key questions remain:

Is this a routine logistics stop, or part of a wider adjustment of Russian supply routes?
Could recent movements indicate a changing role for Russian naval support in the region?

Future AIS patterns and port activity may provide further clues. @KaptainLOMA @key2med @kattyfun1 @Richard_AHolmes @Capt_Navy @CeciliaSykala @TomCotterillX

[Russia Maritime Watch @RFNOSBlog]

The Lada-class SSK and the Improved Kilo-class SSK are leaving the Baltic Sea, possibly heading for their home bases,which are likely “Kronshtadt” and “Mozhaisk”/“Yakutsk”.
The Ropucha-class landing ship Kondopoga is also with them.

Could this simply be a planned redeployment or a routine transfer, possibly linked to the cancellation of Russia’s Navy Day events?
Thanks for sharing this update and for the contribution, @MrFrantarelli. Much appreciated. @SONARROW_OSINT @UKForcesTracker @TiaFarris10 @auonsson @CeciliaSykala @Natalia4Russia @Richard_AHolmes

FB-"Under Broen"/Kurt Pedersen

[Russia Maritime Watch @RFNOSBlog]

🤦
https://t.co/5TR5k8RFyS

[Russia Maritime Watch @RFNOSBlog]

@navyofrussia 🫡

[ВМФ России |ZOV| Navy Of Russia ⚓🇷🇺 @navyofrussia]

Еще фото с БДК "Александр Шабалин" проекта 775 на пути из Балтики. С ним грузовое судно "Михаил Бритнев".

Фото : Frank Behling
19 июня, Фемарн-Бельт.

🇷🇺⚓«ВМФ России |ZOV| Navy Of Russia» в др.соцсетях:
https://t.co/Sq3PgiDjnJ
https://t.co/w3pEBCKqNg

[Russia Maritime Watch @RFNOSBlog]

Russian Navy Amur Class at 1806 UTC is at position 51.7N 02.1E Hove to. DSS GALATEA appears to be tracking its movements very closely.

[Russia Maritime Watch @RFNOSBlog]

@KaptainLOMA I agree with you… we have to wait for the next move.

[Russia Maritime Watch @RFNOSBlog]

22 Jun 2026 | As part of the 2026 Algeria–Russia military cooperation program, a Russian Northern Fleet detachment has arrived at the Port of Oran for a four-day port call. The deployment includes the frigate Admiral of the Fleet Kasatonov and the medium tanker Akademik Pashin.
The visit reflects ongoing bilateral defense engagement and routine naval diplomacy activities in the Mediterranean region. @SONARROW_OSINT @TiaFarris10 @KaptainLOMA @Richard_AHolmes @key2med @jr_amon_ceuta @17frosted @auonsson

https://t.co/5xbu36sTlR

[Russia Maritime Watch @RFNOSBlog]

@KaptainLOMA Kasatonov's stay is about two months, so she could leave the MED. However... I haven't seen her substitution yet. So I think we'll have to wait a bit longer.

[Russia Maritime Watch @RFNOSBlog]

@SONARROW_OSINT @InsiderGeo @OSINT_MASR @ItaMilRadar @MoloWarMonitor @EGYOSINT @FaytuksNetwork @KaptainLOMA Note: The stop is in the port of Oran, not Mers el-Kebir (a military port). Compared to previous times, propaganda.

[Russia Maritime Watch @RFNOSBlog]

@te3ej Ladies and gentlemen, one more journey…. next stop 30 miles off the UK coast, close to an offshore wind farm.@SONARROW_OSINT @TiaFarris10 @UKForcesTracker @Richard_AHolmes @auonsson @17frosted

[Russia Maritime Watch @RFNOSBlog]

Russian tanker Akademik Pashin.
The @vesselspotter.eurosky.social account noted a very interesting detail from an Intel perspective (an anti-drone protection network). This setup, in the Mediterranean, means that they fear an attack even outside the Black Sea. @SONARROW_OSINT @TiaFarris10 @key2med @UKForcesTracker

[Russia Maritime Watch @RFNOSBlog]

It seems like a trivial coincidence, but... an agreement between Algeria and India 🇩🇿🇮🇳 with
the Indian group JINDAL-GROUP and a visit to Oran doesn't seem like a coincidence...🤔 we need to connect the dots and get to the reason.

[Russia Maritime Watch @RFNOSBlog]

@DonnetJules Good 💪

[Russian Forces Spotter @TiaFarris10]

🚨🚨🚨 The frigate 🇷🇺 GRIGOROVICH is currently escorting the sanctioned tanker 🇷🇺 FORWARDER (IMO 9419448).

🇷🇺➡️🇨🇳 FORWARDER departed Primorsk and is proceeding westbound, with AIS data showing China as its declared destination.

⚠️ FORWARDER fits a recurring pattern among vessels escorted by GRIGOROVICH over the past two months: it is Russian-flagged and listed under international sanctions.

[Russia Maritime Watch @RFNOSBlog]

Captain Danilkin is currently at the Indian Coast after unloading cargo in Mumbai. The vessel was part of a convoy of six vessels and two Steregushy-class escort vessels. The vessel is returning to the Pacific, but it is unknown whether it will be escorted by the two Steregushys. They will most likely be met on their return journey by the Dubna-class oiler Pechenga, which accompanied the convoy on the first leg of its journey.

[Russia Maritime Watch @RFNOSBlog]

@ItaMilRadar 🤔