Izvestia newspaper reported that since July 2025, Russia has conducted underwater inspections of 7,983 civilian ships from abroad docking at ports, in an effort to strengthen maritime security against the risk of sabotage. Among them, the Baltic Sea region accounts for the majority with more than 4,100 visits, followed by the Azov Sea, the Far East and the Black Sea.
Authorities warn of the increasing risk of landmines and underground sabotage.
This operation was deployed after the Russian President's decree and the government's additional regulations on ship inspection procedures.
According to Mr. Nikolai Patrushev - Assistant to the Russian President, Chairman of the Maritime Council, all ships from foreign ports that want to enter Russia must be approved with the participation of security agencies, and must carefully check the bottom of the ship.
Notably, Russia is particularly monitoring ships from "unfriendly" countries or passing through the waters of these countries.
The decision to tighten inspections was made after many incidents suspected of having external factors occurred in 2025. At Ust-Luga port, a tanker exploded in the engine room, causing the ship to sink gradually. Another ammonia leak also occurred on a transport ship, but the official cause has not been announced.
Some sources say that signs of damage suggest that the explosion may have come from outside the hull, raising suspicions of sabotage.
Not only major incidents, divers also discovered many unusual signs. Submarine technical inspection expert at Novorossiysk - Mr. Roman Aivazov - said that he had found a "strange" technical cap attached to the hull, with a new bolt even though the bottom was covered with marine life.
Such locations could completely be used to hide explosives," he warned.
In another case, a ship from Istanbul was refused to dock at a Russian port after being discovered to have docked in Ukraine before.
Currently, the inspection is not only by military divers but also by forces of the National Guard and private companies participating. Many units have used remote control equipment for underwater surveys.
However, the units said that the legal system still has many gaps. One of the major problems is the lack of a specialized training mechanism for civilian divers, especially in identifying destructive mines.
According to military expert Dmitry Boltenkov, civilian ships are becoming targets in the economic war against Russia. He warned that sabotage activities could be carried out by mercenaries or professional divers.
No need for regular special forces, just well-trained experts are enough to carry out underwater sabotage," he said.
In that context, seaport security control becomes an urgent priority. An incident with a large ship could paralyze port operations and disrupt the supply chain.
