Russia has begun deploying naval ships to escort tankers belonging to its “shadow fleet” through the narrow Gulf of Finland, a move confirmed by Finland’s Defence Minister Antti Häkkänen.
Serious Investigation
Finnish Defense Minister Antti Häkkänen has characterized recent developments in the Gulf of Finland as unprecedented and indicative of growing regional tension. This statement follows a report from the Finnish Ministry of Defence on May 23, indicating that two Russian military aircraft had entered Finnish airspace without permission. The Finnish government has confirmed that this suspected violation is under serious investigation.
These military escorts by Russia appear to be a direct response to recent actions by the European Union and the United Kingdom. Both blocs have been cracking down on the transportation of Russian oil facilitated by the “shadow fleet”—a network of tankers often operating under flags of convenience, poorly maintained, and lacking proper insurance. These vessels frequently employ deceptive tactics to obscure their cargo’s origin, including disabling tracking systems (AIS), providing false ship data, conducting ship-to-ship oil transfers, and frequently changing names and registries.
A notable incident occurred on May 13 involving a tanker then named Jaguar and registered in Gabon, which refused to stop for inspection by Estonian naval forces. During this standoff, a Russian fighter jet entered Estonian airspace, potentially to protect the tanker. This follows an earlier incident in April, where Estonia detained another suspected “stateless” oil tanker for several days.
Strong Criticism
Russia has vehemently condemned the inspection efforts led by Estonia and supported by the EU, with Vassily Nebenzia, Russia’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, likening the actions to “Baltic piracy” and accusing the EU of violating international norms. Dmitry Peskov, spokesperson for President Vladimir Putin, affirmed that Russia would take all necessary steps to defend its vessels.
The increased Russian military activity in the Baltic Sea comes as the EU implements new sanctions targeting tankers suspected of transporting Russian oil in violation of the G7-imposed price cap. In response, the UK has also imposed sanctions on several vessels in recent weeks. Despite these measures, Russian crude exports have not been entirely halted. The EU has further introduced new rules that allow member states to inspect vessels transiting their waters, even if these ships do not intend to dock at any EU port. Estonia’s Defence Ministry has affirmed its commitment to continue inspecting suspicious ships to safeguard regional safety and the environment from uninsured and potentially dangerous vessels.
The EU and G7 established a price limit on Russian oil to curtail its profits. Currently, the cap stands at $60 per barrel, with discussions in the EU about potentially lowering it to $50. Ukraine advocates for an even greater reduction to $30. However, the effectiveness of the price cap remains a subject of ongoing debate.
According to a recent study by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA), a Finland-based think tank, sanctions specifically targeting the “shadow fleet” might prove more successful than the price cap alone. The study reported a notable decrease in the use of shadow fleet tankers for Russian oil exports, falling from 81% in January 2025 to 65% in April 2025. This suggests that direct measures against these illicit shipping operations may be having a more significant impact on Russian oil transport.
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Source: Marine Insight
