FSB claims sea mines found on gas tanker hull at Ust-Luga port

Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) reported discovering magnetic mines attached to the hull of the gas tanker Arrhenius at the port of Ust-Luga in the Leningrad region. The vessel had arrived from Antwerp, Belgium. The incident raises serious questions about maritime security in the Baltic region.

Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) has announced that magnetic mines were discovered attached to the hull of a gas tanker at the port of Ust-Luga, located in Russia's Leningrad region. The vessel, identified as the Arrhenius, had sailed to the Russian port directly from Antwerp, Belgium.

According to the FSB, the mines were found following an inspection of the tanker's hull after it arrived at Ust-Luga. Russian authorities have not yet publicly disclosed who they believe is responsible for placing the devices on the ship or when exactly they were attached during the vessel's journey.

The incident has potential implications for Baltic Sea security, given the route the tanker traveled. Ust-Luga is one of Russia's major Baltic Sea ports, handling significant volumes of energy exports. The port has been a key node in Russian energy logistics, particularly for liquefied natural gas and petroleum products.

No casualties or explosion have been reported in connection with the discovered devices. It remains unclear whether the mines were functional or what their intended target may have been. Russian security services have launched an investigation into the matter.

The discovery comes amid heightened tensions in the Baltic region and follows a series of incidents involving suspected sabotage of undersea infrastructure in recent years. Western governments and Russia have traded accusations over responsibility for various acts of maritime sabotage since the start of the full-scale war in Ukraine.