- Russia Warns of Harsh Response After Tanker Seizure Attempt.
- Estonia’s Failed Intercept Spurs Russian Military Reaction.
- Moscow Sends Jet Into NATO Airspace Amid Tanker Tensions.
The Kremlin made a statement on Wednesday, declaring that Russia is ready to protect its shipping interests in the Baltic Sea by any means necessary. This announcement follows an unsuccessful attempt by Estonia to seize a Russian-bound oil tanker. The warning comes as tensions rise in the area, fueled by accusations of efforts to enforce Western sanctions on Moscow’s maritime oil exports, reports Reuters.
Estonian Attempt to Stop Tanker Sparks Incident
Just last week, Estonia reported that Moscow had briefly sent a fighter jet into NATO airspace while trying to intercept a tanker believed to be part of Russia’s “shadow fleet”—a group of vessels that are allegedly evading Western oil sanctions. This incident unfolded over the Baltic Sea, which is a crucial route for oil transportation.
Russia Detains Greek-Owned Tanker After Estonian Port Visit
In what many see as a retaliatory move, Russia detained a Greek-owned oil tanker in its waters after the ship had left an Estonian port. Although the vessel was eventually released, this action raised alarms about possible disruptions to shipping in the busy Baltic Sea.
Kremlin Spokesman Issues Warning
Asked how Russia plans to defend its maritime assets, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov emphasised Russia’s readiness to act decisively: “As the latest events related to the attempted pirate attack on one of the tankers showed, Russia demonstrated it is capable of responding quite harshly.”
He further added: “Russia is ready to use ‘all means’ at its disposal in future to respond to such incidents within the framework of international law and had a wide range of response options to choose from.”
Russian Foreign Ministry Criticises NATO
Echoing the Kremlin’s stance, a spokeswoman for Russia’s Foreign Ministry accused NATO of escalating tensions: “NATO [is] carrying out what she called aggressive actions in the Baltic Sea that impeded the freedom of shipping”, about Estonia’s unsuccessful effort to seize the tanker.
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Source: Reuters
