--- title: "Russia deploys troops to tankers: how Moscow is trying to save the 'shadow fleet' from Ukrainian strikes" description: "Russia deploys troops to oil tankers: how Moscow is trying to save the 'shadow fleet' from Ukrainian strikes. 🚒πŸ’₯\n\nAccording to \"ATESH,\" up to three soldiers with MANPADS and drones are planned for each vessel. This is a reaction to the destruction of more than 136 tankers in 10 days. πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡¦πŸ‡·πŸ‡Ί" date: 2026-07-16T05:50:00.000Z lang: en url: https://xab.info/en/posts/russia-deploys-troops-to-tankers-how-moscow-is-trying-to-save-the-shadow-fleet tags: [russia, ukraine, shadow-fleet, black-sea, rubikon] publisher: "XAB.info" --- # Russia deploys troops to tankers: how Moscow is trying to save the 'shadow fleet' from Ukrainian strikes ![Tankers at sea: Russia deploys troops to 'shadow fleet' vessels to protect against Ukrainian strikes](https://xab.info/media/2026/07/16/rf-perebrasyvaet-voiska-na-tankery-kak-moskva-pytaetsya-spasti-tenevoy-flot/rf-perebrasyvaet-voiska-na-tankery-kak-moskva-pytaetsya-spasti-tenevoy-flot-1.webp) A large-scale regrouping of forces is taking place in the Black and Azov Seas. The authorities of the Russian Federation have ordered the "Rubikon" drone center to do everything possible to protect the so-called "shadow fleet." This information was provided by the partisan movement "ATESH" and published by RBC-Ukraine. According to an agent working in the headquarters of the Russian Black Sea Fleet, the Russian command has decided to radically strengthen the protection of oil tankers and gas carriers. To carry out this task, it is planned to involve not only regular military personnel but also units that are currently critically lacking on other fronts of hostilities. ### Troops on board: a new protection scheme Moscow's plan involves placing armed crews directly on the vessels. Up to three military personnel are planned to be assigned to each tanker. These groups will receive serious weaponry to repel attacks: twin machine guns, man-portable air-defense systems (MANPADS), and specialized anti-aircraft drones. The goal of these measures is to create a physical barrier against Ukrainian strikes. As explained by "ATESH," the Kremlin is trying at all costs to protect its "shadow fleet." It is precisely these vessels that Moscow actively uses to bypass international sanctions, generate revenue from oil exports, and fuel military facilities on temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine. ### Response to the successes of the Defense Forces The rush to strengthen security is directly linked to the high effectiveness of Ukrainian military operations. In the last 10 days, more than 136 Russian tankers illegally located in Ukraine's exclusive economic zone have been targeted. The statistics of losses are forcing the Russian command to rethink its protection tactics. Previously, RBC-Ukraine reported on the significant successes of the Special Operations Forces (SOF). For example, on July 15, Ukrainian soldiers sank 20 Russian vessels in the Black Sea. Furthermore, it became known that a Russian FSB border guard ship, the "Izumrud," was sunk by a sea drone. Experts note that the ongoing attacks by the Ukrainian Defense Forces could lead to a complete blockade of Russian shipping in the Azov Sea, which would deal a blow to the Kremlin's logistics and economy.