Source: Sri Lanka Guardian [Sri Lanka]
“A sanctioned Russian cargo ship, the Baltic Leader, has been escorted through the English Channel by the Russian navy corvette Boikiy, raising fresh concerns about Moscow’s ability to transport military hardware despite Western sanctions. The vessel, previously sanctioned by the United States for its role in transporting weapons for the Russian military, is believed to be carrying a shipment of military equipment from Russia’s naval base in Tartus, Syria, towards the front lines in Ukraine. The escort mission highlights Russia’s increasing reliance on longer maritime routes to move critical supplies, as its Black Sea fleet remains vulnerable to Ukrainian attacks. The Baltic Leader began its journey on February 13 from Tartus, where satellite images captured heavy artillery and military vehicles near the docks before loading.” (03/05/25)