Syrian Express: Sanctioned Russian Vessel Transports Weapons from the Middle East.

During the transport of military equipment from Syria across the English Channel, a Russian cargo ship 'Baltic Leader', which is under U.S. sanctions, was spotted. The ship was escorting the Russian warship 'Boiky'.

Photos taken by journalists from a fishing vessel show armed officers and crew members aboard the battleship during its passage through the southern part of the English Channel.

'Baltic Leader' was transporting a shipment of military equipment from a Russian base in the Syrian city of Tartus as part of the winding down of Russian operations in Syria. This is the third ship in the past month to transport Russian weapons along this route, with two more ships expected in the near future.'

Aboard the 'Boiky', sailors were seen burning classified documents and servicing ship-mounted machine guns. The Russian vessels were being monitored by ships of the Royal Navy of Great Britain (HMS Somerset) and Belgium (BNS Crocus).

Regular arms shipments between Syria and Russia, known as the 'Syrian Express', are used to deliver weapons from Russian bases in the Middle East for the war against Ukraine.

As Ukraine successfully destroys Russian vessels in the Black Sea, Russia is forced to choose longer routes to Baltic ports via the Strait of Gibraltar, the English Channel, and the straits between Denmark and Sweden.

Turkey is now trying to block the passage of such vessels through the Bosphorus. Although these ships are formally owned by civilian companies, the transportation of weapons could lead to their classification as military vessels, giving Turkey the right to restrict their passage during wartime.