Russian sanctioned ship transported weapons from Syria across the English Channel

This week, the sanctioned vessel Baltic Leader transported military equipment from Syria across the English Channel, accompanied by a Russian warship.

The vessel transported a consignment of military equipment from the naval base in Tartus, The Times writes.

The publication notes that this is the third ship in a month to transport Russian weapons from Syria across the English Channel, with two more expected in the coming weeks.

The Baltic Leader accompanied the ship “Boykiy”, as also evidenced by photographs taken by journalists from a fishing boat while passing through the southern part of the English Channel.

The publication notes that as Ukraine has become more adept at sinking Russian ships in the Black Sea, Russia is now sending arms shipments from Syria by a longer route to ports in the Baltic, which requires transit through the Strait of Gibraltar, the English Channel and the Great Belt between Denmark and Sweden.

“Turkey is now under pressure to block the passage of cargo ships like the Baltic Leader through the Bosphorus Strait, which separates the Black Sea from the Mediterranean. The law allows Turkey to restrict the passage of warships in times of war, and although the so-called “Syrian Express” cargo ships are owned by civilian companies, the transport of weapons by Russia could mean that they are classified as warships,” the publication writes.

Recall that the Baltic Leader previously entered Syria more freely – this particular ship is part of the so-called “Syrian Express” and has repeatedly transported weapons through the Bosphorus and Dardanelles straits, violating the Montreux Convention.