Estonia will continue inspecting Russian vessels suspected of circumventing sanctions, despite a recent incident involving a Su-35 fighter jet. Prime Minister Kaja Kallas made the statement to Reuters on May 18.
According to Kallas, the incident occurred when Estonia attempted to redirect a tanker believed to be part of Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet.” During the inspection attempt, a Russian aircraft briefly violated NATO airspace.
“This incident changes nothing,” Kallas emphasized, adding that Estonia remains committed to monitoring suspicious ships. “Estonians, Finns — everyone will be watching. If something looks suspicious, we will ask questions,” she said.
Kallas clarified that the Estonian Navy did not plan to board the tanker, which eventually entered Russian waters accompanied by a Russian Su-35 and an Estonian patrol vessel. In April, Estonia detained another shadow fleet tanker — the Kiwala.
According to Estonian estimates, Russia earns around 60% of its oil revenues from shipments by the shadow fleet to buyers in countries such as China and India.
These vessels often operate with opaque ownership structures and lack first-class Western insurance and safety certifications. They are typically loaded in Russian Baltic ports and pass through waters between Estonia and Finland.
Russia views the sanctions as an attempt to suppress its economy and insists its ships should have free passage through the Baltic Sea.
