The Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project reveals that over a dozen men linked to Russian security organizations have been found aboard tankers transporting Russian oil.
A joint investigation by the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCPR) and the Estonian newspaper Delfi has uncovered the presence of more than a dozen individuals with ties to Russian security organizations aboard tankers transporting Russian oil. This report, initially highlighted by Expressen, indicates that these individuals, with documented backgrounds in the Wagner Group, airborne assault units, and Russia's foreign intelligence service, have been identified as 'extra' crew members despite lacking maritime experience.
The investigative journalists scrutinized crew lists of these vessels and managed to name 17 individuals with various military backgrounds. These extra crew members began appearing on the lists post-July 2025, raising concerns regarding their roles and the implications of their presence on the ships transporting Russian oil. Leveraging leaked data from Russian databases, mercenary registries within the Wagner Group, and intelligence information from European agencies, the investigation has corroborated their identities and backgrounds.
This investigation strengthens earlier allegations reported by CNN about the involvement of Russian operatives in oil transportation. It raises significant questions regarding the security and legitimacy of maritime operations linked to Russian oil exports, especially amid ongoing geopolitical tensions surrounding Russia's actions in Ukraine and its influence in the global oil market, indicating a deeper integration of military personnel into commercial activities.
