Russia beefs up protection for its shadow fleet after Ukrainian strikes

According to an Atesh agent working at the headquarters of Russia's Black Sea Fleet, the Russian command has decided to strengthen the protection of oil tankers and gas carriers.

To achieve this, Russia plans to deploy not only regular military personnel but also units that are currently in short supply on other fronts.

In particular, the following are expected to be assigned to protect the vessels:

• Operators from the Rubicon drone center;

• Personnel from the 51st Air Defense Division;

• Troops from the 1096th Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment of the Black Sea Fleet.

Up to three servicemen are expected to be assigned to each vessel. They will be equipped with twin machine guns, man-portable air defense systems, and anti-aircraft drones to repel Ukrainian strikes.

According to Atesh, this is how the Kremlin is trying to protect its shadow fleet. Moscow actively uses it to bypass international sanctions, generate revenue from oil sales, and supply fuel to military facilities in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine.

The partisans emphasize that the rush to strengthen security is linked to the successful actions of Ukraine's Defense Forces. Over the past 10 days, more than 136 Russian tankers that were illegally operating in Ukraine's exclusive economic zone have come under attack.

On July 15, Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces damaged 20 Russian vessels in the Black Sea.

Earlier this month, Ukrainian forces sank the Russian Federal Security Service border patrol ship Izumrud with a naval drone.

It has also become known that attacks by Ukraine's Defense Forces could lead to a blockade of Russian shipping in the Sea of Azov.