Estonian naval forces detained a Russian oil tanker forming part of the so-called 'shadow fleet' early on April 11, 2025, in the Gulf of Finland. The tanker was navigating through Estonian territorial waters when the Estonian Navy moved to detain it as part of efforts to counter covert Russian maritime operations. Commander Commodore Ivo Värk stated during a press conference that the tanker’s seizure does not relate to any damage to critical infrastructure, indicating the operation was targeted specifically at shadow fleet activities. This incident underscores Estonia’s vigilance against covert Russian maritime threats amidst growing Baltic Sea security concerns. The arrest is part of a wider regional crackdown on clandestine Russian shipping activities implicated in evading sanctions and supporting Russia's hybrid warfare capabilities.

Estonian naval forces detained a Russian oil tanker forming part of the so-called 'shadow fleet' early on April 11, 2025, in the Gulf of Finland. The tanker was navigating through Estonian territorial waters when the Estonian Navy moved to detain it as part of efforts to counter covert Russian maritime operations. Commander Commodore Ivo Värk stated during a press conference that the tanker’s seizure does not relate to any damage to critical infrastructure, indicating the operation was targeted specifically at shadow fleet activities. This incident underscores Estonia’s vigilance against covert Russian maritime threats amidst growing Baltic Sea security concerns. The arrest is part of a wider regional crackdown on clandestine Russian shipping activities implicated in evading sanctions and supporting Russia's hybrid warfare capabilities.