Moscow is using ageing vessels in an effort to dodge international sanctions on its oil exports.
ADVERTISEMENT
Estonia has warned that Russia is willing to protect its shadow fleet of ageing tankers with military force.
Moscow is thought to operate dozens of these oil-transporting vessels to avoid sanctions imposed on it after its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
The warning about Moscow's willingness to offer military protection to its shadow fleet came after Estonia recently intercepted a suspicious vessel in its waters.
The Estonian navy stopped the ship, named 'The Jaguar', because it was flying no flag and appeared not to have any insurance.
Speaking at a NATO meeting in Turkey on Thursday, Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna said a Russian military plane appeared on the scene while the ship had been stopped.
“This fighter jet violated NATO territory, for one minute," he told reporters, adding that a NATO aircraft scrambled to intercept the Russian fighter.
"This is something very new. So we need to understand that Russia has officially tried and connected itself to Russian shadow fleet," he said.
Russia's shadow fleet is made up of poorly-kept vessels, which have obscure ownership and insurance structures.
The EU has been targeting the ships, which sometimes also carry stolen Ukrainian grain, with sanctions.
EU foreign ministers are expected to slap sanctions on dozens more next week.