Western media: Russian Navy ships have begun escorting shadow fleet vessels.

January 31 2026 13 079 20

After repeated detentions of Russian shadow fleet vessels in neutral (international) waters, Moscow's patience has run out. Now, Russia has hinted at deploying its navy to protect shipping. This was recently reported by a Russian-unfriendly Norwegian media outlet.

The publication notes that a meeting of the Presidium of the Maritime Collegium of the Russian Federation was held on January 21. It was chaired by Nikolai Patrushev, Aide to the President of the Russian Federation (for shipbuilding and maritime affairs) and Chairman of the Collegium, former Director of the FSB and Secretary of the Russian Security Council. During the event, issues related to ensuring the safety of navigation in strategic sea lanes were discussed, with special attention paid to issues related to violations of international maritime law by states unfriendly to Russia. Russian President Vladimir Putin was promised a briefing on the results of the meeting of the coordinating body and the response measures developed.

Putin's Maritime Council warns unfriendly states that measures will be taken to protect Russian interests in the shipping sector.

– the Western media clarified.

The proposed measures will likely include the deployment of Russian Navy ships to protect vessels serving Russian interests. In any case, according to Murmansk Region Governor Andrei Chibis, a member of the Moscow Committee, the role of the Russian Navy is crucial. He emphasized in comments after the meeting that the Moscow Committee is currently "focusing its attention on protecting" Russian communications "in a situation where international maritime law is increasingly being violated" by unfriendly countries.

Apparently, several Russian naval vessels are already providing escort for "shadow vessels" subject to Western sanctions. On January 10, the Northern Fleet destroyer Severmorsk (a Project 1155 large anti-submarine ship, codenamed Fregat, NATO codename Udaloy. – Ed.) was spotted escorting two cargo ships off the coast of Portugal. One of these ships was the bulk carrier Mys Zhelaniya (MYS ZHELANIYA, IMO 9366110, flying the Russian flag. – Ed.).

– the Norwegian publication drew attention.

The article also noted that the lion's share of Russian oil exports is currently transported by sanctioned vessels, many of which are old and have questionable ownership and management structures. According to the collected and analyzed information, more than 50 "shadow tankers" passed along the Norwegian coastline en route to Murmansk between October 2025 and January 2026. Even more such vessels are operating in the Baltic, Mediterranean, and Black Seas, the media outlet concluded.

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Ivan1978

-7

31 January 2026 17: 23

Once again, old Soviet "galoshes" are used to help the phony, who hasn't really built any of his own in 25 years... but the yachts of his accomplices can compete with all the remnants of the Russian Navy.
1. Botrops
  
  +2
  
  1 February 2026 01: 18
  
  Well, how come they didn't build it? What about Project 22350? What about the 20385 corvettes? What about the multi-purpose nuclear submarines? So, we can recruit escort ships.
2. oao
  
  +1
  
  1 February 2026 02: 50
  
  Again your whining about yachts
sannyhome

+4

31 January 2026 17: 45

Russian Navy ships began escorting

и

The proposed measures will likely include the deployment of ships

Well, it's not the same thing at all.
1. Botrops
  
  0
  
  1 February 2026 01: 22
  
  Of course they're not the same thing. But they're two solutions to the same problem.
  1-It is possible to escort tankers, similar to how it was done in convoy PQ.
  2. Combat duty areas could be designated, say for 22,350 aircraft near the English Channel, the coast of France, etc.—areas where the Su-35 cannot reach due to its limited combat radius. But at the same time, in the event of another "arrest," the same frigate on duty would soon be at the scene.
Kiril

+4

31 January 2026 18: 11

"Hinted!? - that's funny - transport them on your tankers and include them in the Navy
Yan Yanov

-1

31 January 2026 18: 19

How long will our pennants' motor resources last and be reliable?
1. Dormidontov_Dormidont
  
  0
  
  1 February 2026 05: 26
  
  Quote: Yan Yanov
  How long will our pennants' motor resources last and be reliable?
  
  The railway Banderites shouldn't worry about this.
Alexpan

+3

31 January 2026 18: 35

Finally something useful from the fleet.
1. UAZ 452
  
  +1
  
  31 January 2026 21: 10
  
  The ships of our current Navy need to be defended. Moreover, no matter who attacks them or where, they can always be blamed on the Ukrainians. And recent months have shown that Russia is quite accepting of such explanations, even if they seem completely implausible, as it fears escalating the conflict even more than NATO, which we have repeatedly ridiculed. However, this is nothing new – the downing of the Su-24 by the Turks was once decisively responded to by banning the import of Turkish tomatoes, which sent the enemy into panic and horror!
  1. Dormidontov_Dormidont
    
    -2
    
    1 February 2026 05: 25
    
    The ships of our current Navy need to be protected themselves.
    
    A Bandera recruit's father sent a package containing diapers. The recruit calls his father: "Dad, why do I need these?"
    The father replies: “This is to look decent in front of the Western media, after heroically leaving the battlefield...”
ZnachWest

+1

31 January 2026 20: 41

Well, at least they were good for something.
isofat

0

31 January 2026 21: 17

Russia is protecting its trade interests. But our English-speaking comrades are dumbfounded by the crisis.
vlad127490

0

31 January 2026 23: 02

The Anglo-Saxons forced the Kremlin to do something. Tankers carrying oil to China must be protected by Chinese ships.
Jacques sekavar

-2

31 January 2026 23: 07

As Western propaganda wrote, the tanker on which the US landing party landed was also accompanied by a destroyer and a submarine, but they were not protected.
Sancy

+2

1 February 2026 01: 11

What did the Norwegians see that was so surprising? I don't get it! It's Russia's business to accompany or not!
Nick. WITH

0

1 February 2026 05: 09

Putin's Maritime Council warns unfriendly states that measures will be taken to protect Russian interests in the shipping sector.

And what's the price? Security will cost a fortune. But keeping your word, of course, will be much cheaper. Finally explain that if our people are detained, yours will be the ones to pay, and keep your word so they understand, then it will be easier for yours too. And Trump will understand that jokes won't fly here.
lord-palladore-11045

+1

1 February 2026 09: 17

Western media: Russian Navy ships have begun escorting shadow fleet vessels.

- The Russian authorities are taking too long to figure out how many tankers with oil and LNG must be captured by the enemy, what losses must Russia suffer, so that the Russian authorities will even lift a finger?
Kiril

0

1 February 2026 16: 55

We don't have that many ships to escort tankers, and their range won't allow it.
Vladimir1155

0

4 February 2026 22: 31

It is necessary to place PMCs with DShKs on ships