Sweden Reports Armed Personnel on Vessels Tied to Russias Shadow Fleet Amid Increased Naval Activity

Sweden’s navy has reported sightings of armed personnel in uniform on vessels associated with Russia’s so-called «shadow fleet,» coinciding with an increase in Moscow’s military activity along critical shipping lanes in the Baltic Sea.

Commodore Marko Petkovic, who oversees operations for Sweden’s navy, informed Swedish broadcaster SVT that these individuals are likely affiliated with private security firms.

Petkovic further noted that Russia’s naval presence in the area has become «more established and more noticeable,» as warships are frequently active in important regions of the Baltic Sea and the Gulf of Finland.

«The Russian Navy is intermittently present at various key locations in the Baltic Sea and Gulf of Finland, and seems to be conducting operations in some capacity to support this shadow fleet,» stated Petkovic.

Military sources cited by SVT indicated that Russia’s maneuvers represent a continuous patrol operation near significant maritime routes, executed by the Baltic Fleet.

Western officials refer to the term «shadow fleet» to describe the older tankers and other vessels that Russia utilizes to transport oil and petroleum products while circumventing international sanctions related to its conflict in Ukraine.

Reports about Russia commencing the deployment of warships to accompany such tankers surfaced in May, when Finnish Defense Minister Antti Häkkänen characterized the practice as unprecedented.