Baltic tanker war

M/S Arctic Sea

Vessel Characteristics: Ship KIWALA (Crude Oil Tanker) - MarineTraffic
KIWALA (IMO: 9332810) is a Crude Oil Tanker and is sailing under the flag of Djibouti. Her length overall (LOA) is 244 meters and her width is 42 meters.
Estonian navy detains Russian 'shadow fleet' oil tanker - ERR News, April 12, 2025
Estonian minister: Kiwala seizure shows Russian shadow fleet deterrent 'works well' - ERR News, April 12, 2025

Estonia warns Russia may defend shadow fleet with force after airspace breach - Helsinki Times, May 15, 2025
Tensions in the Gulf of Finland escalated this week after a Russian fighter jet violated NATO airspace while escorting a sanctioned oil tanker that refused inspection by the Estonian navy. The incident occurred on Tuesday evening when the Jaguar tanker, identified as part of Russia’s shadow fleet, sailed in the Gulf of Finland without a flag state and ignored repeated instructions from Estonian authorities. The vessel, officially registered under the flag of Gabon, refused to comply with an order to stop for a legal documentation check.

Estonia says Russia detained a tanker in Baltic Sea - Reuters, May 18, 2025
TALLINN, May 18 (Reuters) - Russia detained a Greek-owned oil tanker on Sunday after it left an Estonian Baltic Sea port, the Estonian Foreign Ministry said, adding it had alerted NATO allies to the incident. The Liberia-flagged ship Green Admire was leaving Sillamae port using a designated navigation channel that crosses Russian territorial waters, the ministry said in a statement.
Russia halts tanker from Estonia in shift on Baltic shipping routes - Helsinki Times, May 18, 2025
The tanker Green Admire, operated by Greek company Aegean Shipping and sailing under a Liberian flag, was en route to Rotterdam with a shale oil cargo when it was stopped by Russian border authorities. The incident took place within Russian territorial waters, but on a route jointly agreed by Estonia, Russia, and Finland for safety reasons.
Tanker Released by Russia After Brief Detention in Baltic Sea: Reports - Ship & Bunker, May 20, 2025
According to Russian authorities, the ship entered a zone they had marked as dangerous for navigation. Despite repeated warnings to change course, the tanker did not respond and was escorted to an anchorage off Suursaar.
It's Declaration of WAR: BALTIC States Vow REVENGE for Russia's Detention of the SHIP from ESTONIA - BORZZIKMAN (video)
According to Estonian sources, and Russian sources quoting those, Russia "released" the "seized earlier" tanker (reported on May 20).

November 29, 2025 - Ukraine attacks two tankers in the Black Sea.