# Zelensky: Russia considers putting troops and weapons on civilian ships to protect shadow fleet

https://mins.news/en/item/35843

- The Kyiv Independent, 2026-08-28 15:15 UTC
- World
- Original: https://kyivindependent.com/russia-considers-placing-troops-weapons-on-civilian-ships-as-it-struggles-to-protect-shadow-fleet-zelensky-says/

> Volodymyr Zelensky said Russia is considering placing military personnel, small arms and electronic-warfare equipment on civilian vessels as it struggles to protect its shadow fleet. He said Ukrainian intelligence assessed that drone strikes had effectively confined Russian warships to Novorossiysk, while some Russian exports fell by up to 80% in August.

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