Russia Has Sent A Mysterious Convoy Toward Europe
- 20.05.2026, 9:08
10 ships with unknown cargo.
Russia has formed an unusual maritime convoy of ten ships and vessels that set off from ports in the Far East towards Europe. The group includes six cargo ships, escort warships, a supply tanker and an ocean-going tugboat. Что именно перевозит конвой – официально неизвестно.
О передвижении российского формирования reported the Japanese Defense Ministry, which has been tracking its movement near the Japanese coast.
The convoy was first spotted on May 8 in the Sea of Japan near the Tsushima Strait between Japan and South Korea, according to the Japanese military. Presumably, the ships left the Vladivostok area.
After passing near the southern Japanese islands, the convoy entered the Philippine Sea and continued westward. Analysts suggest that the final point of the route may be European ports in Russia.
The cargo ships Maya 1, Lady D, Lady Maria, Lady R and Captain Danilkin were identified among the convoy's vessels. Some of them are under sanctions by Western countries for transporting weapons, ammunition and military cargo between North Korea and Russia.
The escort is provided by two Steregushchiy-class corvettes, the Sovremenny and the Sharp. The group also includes the Dubna-class support tanker and the Andrei Stepanov ocean tugboat. Experts note that the presence of auxiliary vessels indicates preparation for a long autonomous voyage without calling at ports of allied countries.
The Polish newspaper Wiadomości writes that Russian transport ships previously mostly sailed independently. The formation of a full-fledged convoy with military escort may indicate Moscow's concerns about possible attacks or detentions.
In recent months, tensions around Russia's "shadow fleet" have increased. Western countries have repeatedly detained vessels suspected of circumventing sanctions and transporting Russian oil or military cargo.
What preceded
In 2024, the Russian ship Bolshaya Medveditsa, which was also linked to the transportation of sensitive cargo, sank off the coast of Spain under mysterious circumstances. According to CNN, one version of the incident was an attempt to disrupt Russia's transfer of nuclear technology to North Korea.
After the sinking of the Russian cargo ship Bolshaya Medveditsa off the coast of Spain, the Kremlin launched an urgent naval operation involving military and reconnaissance vessels.
The current convoy is an unprecedented occurrence for the Russian navy and demonstrates Moscow's growing concern about the safety of its shipping, even in the open ocean.