The United Kingdom has been unable to recover its weapons from floating armories used by guards protecting Russian oil tankers.
Unable to Ensure Return of Weapons
These armories, which provide both storage and accommodation, have become critical for security companies escorting Russian vessels through dangerous waters.
As sanctions tightened against Russia, the country increased its oil exports to India, according to Kyiv Independent.
This, in turn, raised the number of Russian vessels traveling through the Suez Canal and the Red Sea — both regions with high risks of piracy.
To guard these routes, Russian tankers hire armed security teams who board the vessels temporarily to protect them until they leave these dangerous zones. These teams rely on floating armories for weapon access and rest.
Following sanctions against Russia, the U.K. revoked permits for some of these floating armories. However, British authorities were unable to ensure the weapons on these ships were returned to licensed storage depots.
Tracking has Proven Difficult
The armories themselves have since been transferred to a Singapore-based company, yet they continue to be used by security firms hired to protect Russian oil shipments from potential pirate attacks.
Since these armories changed ownership and are now based outside the U.K., British officials have been unable to trace the exact locations of their weapons, much less recover them.
Sources familiar with the issue told Bloomberg that tracking these weapons has proven difficult, as the Singapore-based ownership and the companies’ operations are now outside the direct control of British authorities.
Russian fossil fuel exports remain a primary source of revenue for its government, helping to support the country’s military spending.
Despite sweeping sanctions from Western countries, Russia has continued to sustain these exports through various intermediaries, including shell companies and overseas partners.
Support from countries like China, Iran, and North Korea has further enabled Russia’s ability to bypass restrictions.
