Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Israeli Channel 12: Shipping giant Maersk announces stop of shipping to Haifa Port on account of Iranian missiles.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: 25 martyrs, more than 120 injured by Israeli occupation fire targeting aid seekers at Netzarim Axis, Gaza.
Iran's Nour News: Ali Shamkhani, advisor to Iran's Leader, in letter to Sayyed Khamenei: I am alive and ready to sacrifice my life; the day of victory draws near.
Iranian Red Crescent: Five Iranian hospitals damaged in Israeli aggression.
Russia: Peskov: If the United States launches a strike against Iran, Moscow will consider this move a mistake because it will lead to a major escalation of the situation
Russia: Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov: The Middle East is falling into the chaos of war, and this does not bring any good to Russia and is dangerous
Israeli media: 18 settlers were injured in the latest Iranian strike, according to preliminary reports
Israeli media: The Iranian missile impacted an area near the headquarters of Microsoft in Bir al-Sabee'
Israeli media: Sirens sounding in al-Naqab following missile launches from Iran
Israeli Home Front Command: Missiles detected launched from Iran toward al-Naqab

Russia sent Su-35 jet after bid to detain 'shadow fleet': Estonia

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 15 May 2025 13:27
3 Min Read

Estonia intercepted a Russia-bound oil tanker listed under UK sanctions, prompting a Russian military jet to trail the operation in what Moscow described as an effort to "check the situation".

Listen
  • x
  • Russia sent Su-35 jet after bid to detain 'shadow fleet': Estonia
    A Russian Su-35 fighter jet takes off at Hemeimeem air base in Syria on September 26, 2019. (AP)

Estonia’s foreign minister said Thursday that a Russian military jet was deployed as the Estonian Navy attempted to intercept a Russia-bound oil tanker, the Jaguar, which had been placed under British sanctions and was accused of sailing without a flag.

The incident unfolded near Naissaar Island, off the coast of Tallinn, where Estonian forces identified the Jaguar as part of Russia’s so-called "shadow fleet," a term Western governments use to describe vessels allegedly used by Moscow to bypass international sanctions.

Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna stated in Antalya, Turkey, ahead of a NATO foreign ministers' meeting, that the Russian Federation sent a fighter jet to "check the situation," adding, "We need to understand that Russia has officially tried and connected itself to the Russian ‘shadow fleet’."

He added, "The Russian Federation is ready to protect the ‘shadow fleet’... The situation is really serious," calling for faster and tougher sanctions against Moscow.

The Jaguar was added to the UK sanctions list last Friday.

When contacted by the Estonian Navy at 15:30 GMT on Tuesday, the vessel refused to comply with a boarding attempt. According to the Estonian Navy, the operation was carried out under legal obligations to verify the ship’s documentation and status, as it appeared to be sailing without a recognized nationality.

Commander Ivo Vark of the Estonian Navy said, "The vessel denied cooperation and continued its journey toward Russia... Given the vessel's lack of nationality, the use of force, including boarding the vessel, was deemed unnecessary."

Related News

Russia’s central bank cuts interest rate in a first since 2022

DPRK's Kim vows to 'unconditionally support' Russia in Ukraine war

According to reports, the vessel was then escorted to Russian waters. Moreover, marine traffic data on Thursday showed the Jaguar anchored near the Russian port of Primorsk, listed under the flag of Gabon.

NATO response and air patrol deployment

According to the report, the deployment of the Russian jet triggered a response from NATO, with military aircraft based in the Baltic taking off to monitor the situation. 

A video, which circulated on social media, showed Estonian naval vessels, a helicopter, and a patrol aircraft surrounding the Jaguar. A voice can be heard in English commanding, "This is Estonian warship... follow my instructions, alter your course to 105 immediately."

A Russian speaker responds, noting that helicopters are demanding the ship's anchor.

Estonia has not confirmed if this incident is related to a previously reported "airspace breach" involving a Russian Su-35 jet earlier in the week, which prompted a diplomatic protest from Tallinn.

Margarita Simonyan, head of Russia’s state media outlet RT, claimed the Su-35 was dispatched to prevent the Jaguar’s seizure.

The incident comes after Estonia detained another Russia-bound oil tanker, Kiwala, on April 11, also allegedly sailing without a valid flag. 

Western governments have said Russia’s shadow fleet is central to maintaining its oil exports despite sanctions. That said, Britain asserts that sanctioning these vessels limits Russian President Vladimir Putin’s ability to finance the war in Ukraine.

  • Moscow
  • Estonia
  • Russia
  • Sanctions on Russia
Russia & NATO

Russia & NATO

As the Draconian Western-led sanctions on Russia exacerbate the economic crisis worldwide, and as Russian troops gain more ground despite the influx of military aid into Ukraine, exposing US direct involvement in bio-labs spread across Eastern Europe and the insurgence of neo-Nazi groups… How will things unfold?

Most Read

Iranian missiles impact Israeli sites in Tel Aviv in 2nd wave

Iran's missiles impact 'strategic' Israeli site in Tel Aviv

  • Politics
  • 14 Jun 2025
Bin Salman: Islamic world backs Iran in call to Pezeshkian

MBS says Islamic world backs Iran in call with Pezeshkian

  • MENA
  • 15 Jun 2025
Iran launches 9th wave of Op. True Promise 3, destroys IOF air defense

Iran launches 9th wave of Op. True Promise 3, destroys IOF air defense

  • MENA
  • 17 Jun 2025
Smoke rises after an Iranian ballistic missile directly struck Tel Aviv, Occupied Palestine, June 13, 2025 (AP)

Op. True Promise 3: Iran's ballistic missiles strike Tel Aviv

  • MENA
  • 13 Jun 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
Netanyahu stuns by postponing son’s wedding over Iran war
Politics

Netanyahu sparks outrage citing son’s wedding delay as Iran war cost

French court postpones verdict to July 17 on Georges Abdallah
Europe

French court postpones verdict on Georges Abdallah to July 17

Perseverance to shorten war: Iran's Larijani
Politics

Larijani says Iran to hold IAEA chief accountable after war ends

Damage to the Weizmann Institute of Science from an Iranian missile strike in Rehovot, Thursday, June 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo)
Politics

'Catastrophic loss': Iranian blow to Weizmann’s war-linked facilities

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS