Russian officials have proposed equipping grain ships in the Sea of Azov with
machine guns and mobile missile launchers to counter Ukrainian drone attacks.
People familiar with the matter said the military and transport ministries are
negotiating with grain traders and shipowners to secure exports via the Azov,
which normally carries about a quarter of Russia's grain shipments but has been
suspended for two weeks after attacks on ports, vessels and other maritime
infrastructure. The proposal would temporarily outfit bulk carriers with armor
plating, sandbags, anti‑drone nets and firing positions for heavy machine guns;
soldiers armed with Kalashnikov rifles would escort ships for the first leg of
voyages.
