Russia Vows To Protect Its Ships In The Baltic Sea ‘By All Means'

Russian fighter jet — Screengrab from X video posted by Capt_Navy

Russia has declared that it will protect its ships in the Baltic Sea using every method available, after Estonia’s recent attempt to seize a tanker carrying Russian oil.

The Kremlin said on Wednesday that the incident showed Russia’s ability to respond firmly and that it would act against any future threats to its shipping in the region.

According to reports, Estonia tried to stop a tanker suspected of being part of Russia’s “shadow fleet,” a group of vessels believed to transport oil violating international sanctions.

The ship was sailing through Estonia’s economic zone in the Baltic Sea when the interception was attempted. In response, Russia briefly sent a fighter jet into NATO-controlled airspace.

Days after the fighter jet incident, Russia detained a Greek-owned oil tanker in its own waters. The ship had departed from an Estonian port and was anchored near a Russian-controlled Baltic island for two days before being released.

Estonian public broadcaster ERR confirmed the vessel was carrying shale oil.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated on Wednesday that Russia viewed Estonia’s actions as an attempted “pirate attack” and warned that Russia would not stay silent if its trade or maritime activity was threatened. He said the country had “a fairly wide range of means” to respond, and those would be used within the boundaries of international law.

The Estonian Navy tried to intercept the JAGUAR tanker flying the flag of Gabon in the international waters of the Gulf of Finland, on the beam of Tallinn. The ship was bound for the Russian port of Primorsk. pic.twitter.com/Dqql92lx1p

— Capt(N) (@Capt_Navy) May 14, 2025

The Russian Foreign Ministry also accused NATO of performing aggressive actions in the Baltic Sea that restricted the freedom of navigation. A ministry spokeswoman said these actions were being led by countries like Estonia to pressurise Moscow.

Baltic countries, including Estonia, Finland, and Germany, have been taking strict action against tankers suspected of being part of Russia’s shadow fleet.

These vessels often operate under obscure ownership, lack transparent insurance coverage, and are sometimes older ships that could pose environmental and safety risks.

Some Baltic leaders worry the tankers may damage undersea power and communication cables or create security problems in the region.

Earlier on the same day, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said that a Russian-sanctioned ship had been spotted performing “suspicious maneuvers” near the undersea power cable linking Poland and Sweden.

According to Tusk, the ship was turned away after what he called an “effective intervention” by Poland’s military.

Although Russia has largely lost access to the European oil market due to sanctions, the Baltic Sea remains a key route for its crude and oil product exports. These shipments are often redirected to countries in Asia and Latin America.

References: Reuters, Stripes

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