Russia’s use of its naval capabilities in the Caspian Sea to strike Ukraine emphasizes the strategic importance that the landlocked body of water can play. Restricted access to the Caspian Sea, an important route for transcontinental shipping and energy transit, accentuates the power disparity of the different navies and coast guards that operate in the region. The attack on Ukraine marks a shift in Russian policy, and its use of the Caspian fleet potentially reflects the changing security demands of the region as well as the traditional challenges of preventing trans-Caspian smuggling.