Machine guns spotted on Gazprom tanker in the Baltic Sea — the first time Russia has armed a civilian vessel with heavy weapons

Estonian border guards have documented two large-caliber machine guns on a Russian gas tanker, the Marshal Vasilevskiy, in the Baltic Sea, marking a first for Russia to arm a civilian vessel with such heavy weaponry. This development raises significant security concerns, especially in a region already tense due to geopolitical tensions. The presence of these weapons suggests a shift in Russia's approach to protecting its maritime interests, potentially signaling a more aggressive stance in its dealings with neighboring countries.