Tensions in the Baltic Sea escalated this week after a Russian Su-35 fighter jet briefly entered the airspace of Estonia, a NATO member, in what Estonian authorities described as an attempt to prevent the detention of a tanker ship allegedly linked to Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet,” used to evade Western sanctions.
The incident occurred on Tuesday, when the tanker Jaguar, officially registered in Gabon but without a visible flag at the time, was intercepted by the Estonian Navy near the island of Naissaar, off the capital Tallinn. According to Commander Ivo Värk, the vessel was boarded for failing to properly identify itself and refusing to alter its course after multiple radio communications.
While the Estonian navy attempted to verify the tanker’s documentation, a Russian Su-35 fighter jet was dispatched to the area and, upon approaching the scene, violated Estonian airspace for approximately one minute. The aircraft circled the area and remained near the Jaguar until the ship crossed into Russian territorial waters, escorted by an Estonian patrol boat.
“The Russian Federation is willing to protect its ‘shadow fleet.’ The situation is truly serious,” declared Estonia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Margus Tsahkna, speaking from Turkey, where he was attending a NATO foreign ministers meeting.
The “shadow fleet” and the Baltic dispute
The West accuses Moscow of operating a “shadow fleet” made up of more than 100 vessels sailing without a flag or under dubious registration to continue exporting oil and fuels to countries such as China and India, despite sanctions imposed after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Russia, for its part, claims the sanctions are aimed at suffocating its economy and has warned that any attempt to detain its vessels amounts to a provocation. “Our ships have free passage in the Baltic. Any attempt to stop them is dangerous,” stated the Kremlin.
The violation of Estonian airspace was confirmed by defense spokespeople from the Baltic country, who noted that NATO was immediately notified and deployed military aircraft to inspect the Jaguar.
Lithuanian Prime Minister Gintautas Paluckas expressed concern over a possible escalation: “The likelihood of a serious conflict in the Baltic Sea is growing. Russia is clearly demonstrating its willingness to protect its oil route. We must act carefully and rationally to avoid a military confrontation.”
Diplomatic tension and footage of the incident
Footage shared on social media shows the Jaguar surrounded by a helicopter and an Estonian patrol boat, with a voice in English over radio ordering: “This is an Estonian warship… follow my instructions, alter your course to 105 immediately.” Voices in Russian and Hindi can also be heard, indicating the presence of an international crew.
One of the recordings briefly shows a military jet flying over the area. Estonia does not operate such aircraft, reinforcing the claim that it was a Russian Su-35.
The Jaguar is currently anchored off the Russian port of Primorsk, according to data from the Marine Traffic portal.
Background and geopolitical context
This is not the first incident of its kind. On April 11, Estonia temporarily detained the tanker Kiwala, also headed to Russia and lacking a valid flag. The vessel was released two weeks later after its registration in Djibouti was confirmed.
Meanwhile, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte stated that the Atlantic Alliance remains in close contact with Estonia to monitor the situation.
From Moscow, the head of state media outlet RT, Margarita Simonyan, posted on X that the fighter jet was sent to prevent the seizure of the Jaguar. Kremlin adviser Nikolai Patrushev also recently warned that “the Russian Navy is ready to protect its ships” and called Western efforts a “quasi-naval blockade.” So far, Gabonese authorities have not issued any comments on the legal status of the vessel involved.
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