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

Russia's FSB says magnetic mines were discovered on the hull of the gas tanker Arrhenius after it arrived at the Ust-Luga port in Leningrad Oblast. The vessel had sailed from Antwerp, Belgium. The incident raises serious security concerns at a major Russian energy terminal.

Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) has announced the discovery of magnetic mines on the hull of a gas tanker that arrived at the port of Ust-Luga in Leningrad Oblast from Antwerp, Belgium. The vessel, named Arrhenius, was inspected upon arrival at the Baltic Sea port, which serves as one of Russia's key energy export terminals.

According to the FSB, the mines were found attached to the ship's hull and were identified as maritime magnetic mines. No further details have been disclosed regarding the number of devices found or their exact placement on the vessel. Russian authorities have launched an investigation into the incident.

Ust-Luga is a strategically significant port facility located near the Estonian border on the Gulf of Finland. It handles large volumes of Russian energy exports, including liquefied natural gas and oil products. The port has been a subject of heightened security attention since the start of Russia's full-scale war in Ukraine.

The incident comes amid elevated tensions in the Baltic Sea region, where NATO allies have been closely monitoring suspicious activity around critical underwater and maritime infrastructure. Several incidents involving damage to undersea cables and pipelines in the Baltic have previously been attributed to sabotage, though investigations are ongoing. The Arrhenius case adds a new dimension to concerns about maritime security in the region.