Event 888

{
  "attack_type": "Airspace Violation",
  "category": "Kinetic",
  "confidence": "High",
  "countries": [
    "Estonia",
    "Russia",
    "United Kingdom",
    "Ukraine"
  ],
  "country": "Estonia",
  "description": "On May 13, 2025, a Russian Sukhoi Su-35 fighter jet violated Estonian airspace reportedly to protect a 'shadow fleet' tanker named 'Jaguar' being escorted out of Estonia's exclusive economic zone by the Estonian Navy. The tanker, flagged Gabonese and suspected of evading Western sanctions, ignored an order to stop and exited Estonian waters. Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna publicly linked the airspace violation to the protection of this tanker, highlighting it as evidence of Russian aggressive behavior and a serious threat to regional security beyond Ukraine. The Estonian Defense Forces confirmed the airspace violation but were cautious about directly connecting it to the naval escort operation. The incident drew international attention during a NATO foreign ministers meeting in Turkey, with Estonia notifying relevant diplomatic channels including the U.S. Secretary of State.",
  "event_time_utc": "2025-05-13T18:00:00Z",
  "evidence": [
    "Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna said a Russian fighter jet's incursion into Estonian airspace on Tuesday (May 13) was to 'protect' a shadow fleet vessel escorted out of Estonia's exclusive economic zone by the Navy.",
    "A Russian Sukhoi Su-35 flew in Estonia's airspace the same evening, the Defense Forces said.",
    "Tsahkna wrote on X that the 'fighter jet violated NATO airspace to protect a shadow fleet tanker.'",
    "Estonia exercised its right to inspect a shadow fleet vessel passing through its exclusive economic zone, the unflagged and uninsured Argent/Jaguar, which is sanctioned by the United Kingdom.",
    "Russia responded dangerously aggressively by accompanying the shadow fleet tanker with a fighter jet, which violated Estonian airspace in the process.",
    "The Defense Forces confirmed the plane violated Estonian airspace at the same time as the tanker was being escorted but cautioned on directly connecting the two incidents.",
    "The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has issued a diplomatic note to the Russian chargé d'affaires in Estonia."
  ],
  "extra": {
    "extra": {
      "extra": {
        "evidence": [
          "Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna said a Russian fighter jet's incursion into Estonian airspace on Tuesday (May 13) was to 'protect' a shadow fleet vessel escorted out of Estonia's exclusive economic zone by the Navy.",
          "A Russian Sukhoi Su-35 flew in Estonia's airspace the same evening, the Defense Forces said.",
          "Tsahkna wrote on X that the 'fighter jet violated NATO airspace to protect a shadow fleet tanker.'",
          "Estonia exercised its right to inspect a shadow fleet vessel passing through its exclusive economic zone, the unflagged and uninsured Argent/Jaguar, which is sanctioned by the United Kingdom.",
          "Russia responded dangerously aggressively by accompanying the shadow fleet tanker with a fighter jet, which violated Estonian airspace in the process.",
          "The Defense Forces confirmed the plane violated Estonian airspace at the same time as the tanker was being escorted but cautioned on directly connecting the two incidents.",
          "The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has issued a diplomatic note to the Russian chargé d'affaires in Estonia."
        ]
      }
    }
  },
  "follow_up_by_country": [
    {
      "country": "Estonia",
      "status": "Official Statement"
    },
    {
      "country": "Russia",
      "status": "Investigation"
    }
  ],
  "location_text": "Estonian airspace and Exclusive Economic Zone",
  "media_assets": [
    {
      "description": "Screenshot capture",
      "type": "screenshot",
      "url": "/media/event_888_1764262526_2e78201c.jpg"
    }
  ],
  "schema_version": "v1",
  "screenshot_count": 1.0,
  "summary_extended": "On May 13, 2025, a Russian Sukhoi Su-35 fighter jet made an incursion into Estonian airspace coinciding with the Estonian Navy escorting the 'Jaguar,' a shadow fleet tanker believed to be involved in evading Western sanctions and flagged Gabonese, out of Estonia's exclusive economic zone. Estonia exercised its right to inspect the vessel due to suspicions related to sanctions and regulatory non-compliance. While the Estonian Defense Forces confirmed the airspace violation, they stopped short of directly linking the jet's flight to the naval escort. Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna clarified the connection, stating the jet was protecting the tanker, describing the act as part of broader Russian hostile behavior impacting Baltic security. The 'Jaguar' subsequently proceeded to a Russian port in Primorsk. The incident was raised at a NATO foreign ministers' informal meeting and alerted to the U.S. Secretary of State, marking a notable escalation in hybrid and maritime tensions in the Baltic Sea region.",
  "summary_short": "A Russian fighter jet violated Estonian airspace on May 13, 2025, allegedly to protect a sanctioned shadow fleet tanker escorted out of Estonia's waters.",
  "url": "https://news.err.ee/1609694862/fm-russian-fighter-jet-violated-estonia-s-airspace-to-protect-shadow-fleet-vessel",
  "where": "Air"
}

{
  "5th Column of Russians Inside (which countries)": "",
  "Attack Type": "airspace violation",
  "Borders Including Sea, Air,  Violation or Sabotage (which countries)": "EE, BSR, Air",
  "Continuous? (e.g. Jammers)": "",
  "Country (FI;EE;LV;LT;PL;BSR;Air)\nSeparated by Semicolon": "EE;Air;BSR",
  "Date": "15-May-25",
  "Defense Prep Event (FI-EE-LV-LT-PL)": "",
  "Defense Prep Event (FI-EE-LV-LT-PL) REF LINK": "",
  "Follow-Up Link?  (FI,EE,LV,LT,PL, BSR, Air)": "https://news.err.ee/1609694862/fm-russian-fighter-jet-violated-estonia-s-airspace-to-protect-shadow-fleet-vessel and https://www.lloydslist.com/LL1153484/Dark-fleet-politics-escalate-as-Russia-scrambles-jet-to-protect-nationless-tanker",
  "Follow-Up NOTES": "",
  "Follow-Up incl. Investigation, Prosecution?  (FI,EE,LV,LT,PL, BSR, Air)": "??Russian jet violated ??Estonian airspace to protect shadow fleet tanker",
  "Latitude, Longitude (WGS84, Decimal Degrees)": "",
  "NOTES": "??Estonian FM says?? Russian jet intervened to shield unregistered 'Jaguar' shadow tanker.",
  "Political Disruptions w/ Laws to Favor Kremlin (which countries)": "",
  "Russian-Belarus Terrorist Event (FI-EE-LV-LT-PL)": "",
  "Russian-Belarus Terrorist Event (FI-EE-LV-LT-PL) REF LINK": "",
  "Screen Snapshot": "",
  "Screen Snapshots": "",
  "Type Dropdown": "Airspace Violation",
  "Where?\n(Air, Land, Sea)": ""
}