Estonian navy intercepts Russian 'shadow fleet' tanker
The Estonian navy escorted the "Jaguar" tanker from the Russian shadow fleet. "To avoid any threat to Estonia's underwater infrastructure, the ship was escorted out of Estonian waters to Russian waters," said Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur.
Key information
- The Estonian navy escorted the tanker "Jaguar".
- The ship belonged to the Russian shadow fleet and was approaching the EstLink cable.
- The intervention aimed to protect Estonia's underwater infrastructure.
The Estonian navy took action against the tanker "Jaguar," a vessel associated with the Russian shadow fleet. The ship was nearing Estonian underwater infrastructure, raising security concerns. A naval warship, helicopter, and airplane were deployed in response.
Accordingly, we prepared for the possibility that if this vessel entered Estonia's area of responsibility and approached EstLink, we would escort it and try to determine its status, said the head of the Estonian Ministry of Defense.
Hanno Pevkur emphasized that the purpose of the escort was to prevent any threat to critical underwater infrastructure and to send a clear message that "the situation is being taken seriously".
Reactions and consequences
In the last 18 months, ships leaving or arriving at Russian ports have destroyed a gas pipeline, a power cable, and several communication cables. Repairing the damaged EstLink 2 cable is expected to continue until July.
Commander Ivo Värk, commander of the Estonian Navy, reported that the unflagged ship is anchored near Gogland Island. Its destination is the port of Primorsk in Russia, where it is expected to arrive Thursday morning (ET).
The Estonian navy's actions highlight the importance of monitoring ship movements in the region. Protecting underwater infrastructure remains a priority for Estonia, especially in the context of previous incidents.
