Sweden’s Navy has identified uniformed Russian military personnel aboard oil tankers linked to Russia’s so-called shadow fleet in the Baltic Sea, according to reporting by SVT, Sweden’s public service broadcaster.
The navy said the sightings form part of a broader Russian military operation aimed at protecting the shadow fleet, which is used to circumvent Western sanctions on Russian oil exports.
Russia’s shadow fleet consists largely of older tankers transporting Russian oil to bypass Western sanctions. Ownership is often opaque, and many of the vessels lack reliable insurance. Swedish authorities estimate that around 90% of Russia’s crude oil exports now rely on the shadow fleet.
Armed personnel spotted on tankers
According to the Swedish Navy, Russian naval vessels have been monitoring specific zones in the Baltic Sea, while uniformed personnel have been observed on board some of the tankers.
“We have seen and received information that uniformed personnel are present on some of these shadow fleet vessels,” Swedish Navy operations chief Marko Petkovic said.
Petkovic said the personnel were believed to be armed and likely linked to private security companies, rather than regular Russian naval units.
Reports of military-clad personnel aboard shadow fleet vessels have circulated since the autumn. Danish investigative outlet Danwatch previously cited pilots who described threatening situations while guiding such ships.
Russia's naval presence becomes 'permanent'
The Swedish Navy said Russia has also increased its naval presence in the region over time. “Russian naval activity has become more permanent and present across large parts of the Baltic Sea,” Petkovic said.
He added that Russian warships periodically operate near key maritime routes in the Baltic Sea, the Gulf of Finland, and waters west of Sweden, appearing to support shadow fleet operations.
Military sources cited by SVT described a near-constant Russian naval presence in several zones close to major shipping lanes. This has reportedly tied up parts of Russia’s Baltic Fleet in static maritime surveillance roles.
Both the navy and Sweden’s Coast Guard said they saw no immediate threat.
Shadow fleet critical to Russia's war economy
Daniel Stenling, deputy operational chief at the Swedish Coast Guard, said increased Russian naval activity had been observed in strategically important areas at sea.
While the Coast Guard had not directly confirmed sightings of armed personnel on tankers, Stenling said the reports underlined how important the shadow fleet is to Moscow.
“This activity is so important for Russia that we expect various security measures to be in place,” he said.
