Estonian authorities have detained the oil tanker—The Kiwala— in the Baltic Sea near Tallinn, marking the first direct action by the country against Russia’s “shadow fleet,” a group of ships allegedly used to circumvent international sanctions on Russian oil exports.
The vessel, previously registered under Djibouti’s flag but currently without any national flag, was intercepted near Tallinn Bay during an operation involving helicopters. Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal stated that the navy detained the sanctioned vessel due to concerns over its legal status and safety.
The ship was en route to Ust-Luga, a significant Russian seaborne oil port on the Baltic Sea. This action aligns with broader European efforts to address the operations of Russia’s shadow fleet, which reportedly comprises hundreds of aging vessels with obscure ownership and unknown insurance, used to evade sanctions imposed by the G7 and EU.
In response to such detentions, Russian officials have issued warnings, suggesting that any seizure of their vessels could be interpreted as an attack on Russian territory, even if the ships operate under foreign flags.
