Times: Russia allegedly deployed heavy weapons at the Marshal Vasilevsky gas field

Heavy machine guns are allegedly installed on board the Russian tanker Marshal Vasilevsky, carrying liquefied natural gas in the Baltic Sea. This was reported on June 29 by the British newspaper The Times. All the details are in the Izvestia article.

Arming the gas carrier

According to The Times, Russia has allegedly begun equipping tankers for the transportation of liquefied natural gas with stationary artillery installations. According to the newspaper, the installations are designed to protect ships from drones and possible boarding attempts. The Times also believes that the spread of such practices may reduce the likelihood of Western countries using force against Russian vessels.

Detention of the Russian tanker Deliver

On June 25, the French Navy detained the Deliver oil tanker off the coast of Sicily. French President Emmanuel Macron said that the ship was sailing in violation of maritime law, and noted that the operation was carried out a few days after similar actions by the United Kingdom.

The Russian Embassy in Paris called the detention illegal and contrary to international law. The diplomatic mission also stated that they regard the actions of the French side as piracy, noting that there were no Russian citizens among the crew members of the tanker.

The position of the Russian Foreign Ministry

Maxim Musikhin, director of the Legal Department of the Russian Foreign Ministry, said that European Union (EU) sanctions also cannot serve as a legal basis for detaining Russian vessels or restricting freedom of navigation. According to him, Moscow continues to provide assistance to the crews of the detained vessels and uses political and diplomatic mechanisms, including the UN Security Council, to protect freedom of navigation.