Russia's shadow fleet uses new location-spoofing tactics

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 19 Oct, 10:19 · Archive

Russia is deploying a new technique to make shadow fleet tankers appear in two places simultaneously using GPS manipulation.

Russia is deploying a new technique to make its shadow fleet tankers appear in two locations at once by manipulating the Automatic Identification System (AIS), the global safety and navigation system used to track the position and course of thousands of ships. The Financial Times and i Paper report that the deception appears co-ordinated, suggesting Moscow is tightening its control over the vessels used to transport oil needed to fund its war.

Russia has long sought to disguise the position of its ageing oil tanker fleet by interfering with AIS. The Kremlin is now deepening its manipulation of the system as it increasingly takes direct control of tankers within the shadow fleet. The i Paper reports that some tankers frequently transit the Channel and Britain's coast, with some known to carry weapons. Hundreds of the vessels are subject to sanctions, and Western countries including the UK have sought to seize them.

How it is being reported

• Why Putin’s shadow fleet now poses greater danger to UK'Spoofing' strategies are being deployed by Moscow for ships that frequently transit the Channel and Britiain's coast - some of which are known to carry weaponsThe i Paper · 19 Oct, 10:00
• Russian ‘shadow fleet’ fakes locations to appear in two places at onceNew method of deception appears co-ordinated, suggesting Moscow is tightening its control over the tankersFinancial Times · 18 Oct, 05:00

In this story: Russia · Moscow · UK · Western countries

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem