Estonia has detained a Russian-linked oil tanker called the Kiwala near Tallinn for violating maritime law regulations. The vessel, part of Moscow’s “shadow fleet,” had been operating under the flag of Djibouti but was found to be flying without a valid flag.
According to Estonian authorities, the crew provided a fake flag certificate, which was later disputed by the Djibouti naval authority. As a result, Estonia has detained the vessel for inspection.
The Kiwala has already faced sanctions from several countries, including the EU, Canada, Switzerland, and the UK, due to its suspected involvement in transporting Russian oil while circumventing international sanctions.
The detention marks the first time Estonian authorities have directly targeted Russia’s “shadow fleet.” The vessel is now under guard by three navy vessels until further checks are completed.
Source: https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2025/04/11/us-no-longer-to-chair-nato-led-group-of-key-military-allies