Russia has detained a Greek oil tanker, the Green Admire, as it left the Estonian port of Sillamae on a previously agreed route through Russian waters. The vessel was sailing under the Liberian flag and was carrying a cargo of shale oil bound for Rotterdam in the Netherlands.
Estonia’s government has announced that it will redirect maritime traffic to and from Sillamae exclusively through Estonian waters to prevent similar incidents in the future. Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna described the incident as “unpredictable” behavior by Russia, stating that he had informed NATO allies of the event.
The detention marks the latest incident involving Russia’s military presence in the region, following a recent attempt by the Estonian navy to stop an unflagged tanker in Russian waters. Russia responded by sending a fighter jet to escort the tanker, violating Estonia’s airspace.
The incident highlights tensions between Russia and NATO member states over maritime security and the use of foreign ports. As Russia seeks to maintain its crude oil exports despite Western sanctions imposed after its invasion of Ukraine, it has been using a network of “shadow” vessels to bypass restrictions.
Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/5/18/russia-detains-greek-oil-tanker-after-it-departs-estonian-port