Estonia warns Russia may use military force to defend its shadow tanker fleet

Estonia has raised concerns about Russia’s readiness to use military force to protect its covert fleet of old tankers bypassing international sanctions in order to maintain oil revenue and supplies.

Estonia’s Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna disclosed that a Russian fighter jet breached NATO airspace recently following the interception of a suspected covert fleet vessel, named the Jaguar, in Estonian waters. The vessel was halted by the navy due to lack of flag and insurance, with a Russian warplane arriving at the scene during the inspection.

Tsahkna emphasized that the incident signified a new level of aggression, with NATO aircraft mobilizing to confront the Russian fighter. He stressed the significance of air patrols over the Baltic Sea in response to Russia’s association with the covert fleet, highlighting the gravity of the situation.

The covert fleet consists of old tankers acquired second-hand by entities with opaque backgrounds in non-sanctioning countries like the UAE and the Marshall Islands, and registered under flags of convenience in places such as Gabon and the Cook Islands. Some of these vessels are linked to the Russian state Sovcomflot shipping company, aiding Russian oil exporters in circumventing the price limits imposed by Ukraine’s allies.

The EU has imposed sanctions on the vessels, which are also suspected of transporting stolen Ukrainian grain, with around 70 additional vessels expected to face sanctions as per EU foreign ministers in the upcoming week.