Russia Proposes Arming Grain Ships With Machine Guns and Missile Launchers to Counter Ukraine Drone Attacks

According to Jin10, Russian officials proposed on July 28 equipping grain vessels with machine guns and mobile missile launch systems to defend against Ukrainian drone strikes. Russian military and transport authorities are negotiating with grain traders and ship owners to secure cargo exports through the Sea of Azov, which typically handles about one-quarter of Russia's grain shipments.

Port facilities, vessels, and other maritime infrastructure in the Sea of Azov have been targeted over the past two weeks, halting trade activity. Russia is suggesting temporary defensive measures for bulk carriers, including armored plating, sandbags, anti-drone nets, and heavy machine gun firing positions.