Russia Begins Escorting Shadow Fleet Tankers in Gulf of Finland

The Russian military has started escorting tankers from its so-called “shadow fleet” as they pass through the Gulf of Finland, Finnish Defence Minister Antti Häkkänen reported.

The announcement comes after Finland’s Ministry of Defense reported a possible airspace violation by two Russian aircraft on May 23.

The Ministry noted a significant increase in Russian aerial activity near its border since Finland officially joined NATO.

Earlier this year, on February 7, the Finnish Ministry of Defense reported a suspected violation of Finnish airspace by a Russian government aircraft near the Hanko Peninsula.

The aircraft was believed to have remained in Finnish airspace for several minutes.

Tensions in the Baltic Sea

On May 14, Estonia attempted to intercept the Jaguar, a tanker identified as part of Russia’s shadow fleet. The Gabon-flagged vessel was traveling through international waters en route to the Russian port of Primorsk.

Estonia deployed an AgustaWestland AW139 helicopter, an M28 Skytruck aircraft, and the patrol vessel EML Raju.

In response, Russia scrambled a Su-35S fighter to escort the tanker. The Jaguar ignored requests to alter course and later anchored near Gogland Island in the eastern Baltic Sea.

The Estonian Ministry of Defense reported that the Russian Su-35S failed to establish two-way communication with Estonian air traffic control, violating international aviation procedures.

Portuguese F-16s, stationed at Ämari Air Base as part of NATO’s Baltic Air Policing mission, responded to the incident.

On May 18, Russia detained the Green Admire tanker while it was transiting Russian territorial waters.

The vessel, carrying shale oil from Estonia to Rotterdam, belongs to Greece-based Aegean Shipping.

Tankers in the region typically use the deeper Russian coastal route, considered safer for large vessels than the shallow waters off Estonia.

Estonia, Russia, and Finland had previously agreed upon the route.