The Russian LNG tanker Marshal Vasilevskiy, owned by Gazprom, is armed with heavy Kord 12.7mm machine guns mounted on both ends of the ship's bridge. These machine guns, capable of firing 10-12 rounds per second and effective up to two kilometers, were photographed by the Estonian border guard in mid-May 2026 during the ship's navigation through Estonian waters. Crew lists since August 2025 reveal the presence of Russian personnel with military and intelligence backgrounds aboard the vessel, likely part of a security detail to protect the ship. The Marshal Vasilevskiy functions as a floating gas storage and treatment unit, transporting LNG between Gazprom's Portovaya terminal near Saint Petersburg and the Kaliningrad exclave, a critical military and nuclear base for Russia. The armament serves as a clear warning to NATO forces to refrain from boarding (entering) the vessel, as such action could provoke war. NATO countries like Lithuania, Estonia, and Finland monitor the ship's course closely. The ship is under sanctions from UK, Australia, and Canada due to Russian aggression in Ukraine. Analysts emphasize that the machine guns are not effective against aerial drones but are intended to deter other naval vessels from hostile approaches. The presence of these weapons and military personnel represents an escalation in hybrid maritime threats and showcases Russia's assertiveness over Baltic and adjacent NATO maritime domains.

The Russian LNG tanker Marshal Vasilevskiy, owned by Gazprom, is armed with heavy Kord 12.7mm machine guns mounted on both ends of the ship's bridge. These machine guns, capable of firing 10-12 rounds per second and effective up to two kilometers, were photographed by the Estonian border guard in mid-May 2026 during the ship's navigation through Estonian waters. Crew lists since August 2025 reveal the presence of Russian personnel with military and intelligence backgrounds aboard the vessel, likely part of a security detail to protect the ship. The Marshal Vasilevskiy functions as a floating gas storage and treatment unit, transporting LNG between Gazprom's Portovaya terminal near Saint Petersburg and the Kaliningrad exclave, a critical military and nuclear base for Russia. The armament serves as a clear warning to NATO forces to refrain from boarding (entering) the vessel, as such action could provoke war. NATO countries like Lithuania, Estonia, and Finland monitor the ship's course closely. The ship is under sanctions from UK, Australia, and Canada due to Russian aggression in Ukraine. Analysts emphasize that the machine guns are not effective against aerial drones but are intended to deter other naval vessels from hostile approaches. The presence of these weapons and military personnel represents an escalation in hybrid maritime threats and showcases Russia's assertiveness over Baltic and adjacent NATO maritime domains.