Watch dramatic Nato vs Russia sea clash erupt as warplanes buzz Putin's ‘shadow fleet' vessel as it's ordered ‘stop NOW'
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window)
Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
BOTH Nato and Russia scrambled warplanes in a dramatic dogfight over the Baltic Sea after a tense standoff over an undercover Russian tanker.
Estonian sea and air forces stalked and tried to board an oil tanker called Jaguar - thought to be part of Russia's shadow fleet.
7
A Russian Su-35 fighter jet, followed by a Polish Air Force MiG-29
Credit: East2West
7
Left to right: an Estonian AgustaWestland AW139 helicopter, M28 Skytruck aircraft and a Russian Su-35 fighter jet pictured over the Jaguar oil tanker during the standoff
Credit: East2West
7
The Russian tanker crew goaded the Estonian helicopter forces
Credit: East2West
It was draped in the Gabon flag, but was sanctioned by Britain on Friday over accusations it is a Russian pawn.
Nato aircraft - including Polish MiG-29s - were scrambled as the vessel refused to cooperate.
In response, Russia scrambled a Su-35S fighter jet which is said to have violated Estonian airspace as it stormed in to cover for the fleeing Jaguar.
In dramatic footage, the Polish Nato plane can be seen tailing the Russian Su-35 in a dogfight over the Gulf of Finland - part of the Baltic Sea.
A Russian voice on the bridge of the tanker goaded the Estonians, calling them 'clowns' as they tried and failed to board.
The tanker ultimately anchored near Gogland Island - controlled by Russia - in the eastern Baltic Sea.
Footage shows the high drama in one of the most tense regions in the world amid disputes between Russia and Nato over Ukraine.
'This is how we're greeted with helicopters,' said a voice -apparently Russian - on the tanker. "They're demanding we anchor.'
A message is heard saying: 'This is Estonian warship Papa 6732.
'Your request will be denied.
Satellite pics show Putin on the march as Russia masses troops 35 miles from Nato border with 2k soldiers & helicopters
'Follow my instructions. Immediately change course to 105. Over.'
A voice from the tanker in Hindi says: 'That looks like our drone in front….'
A Russian voice demands: 'Go on, hit it running….'
Referring to the Estonians, he says: 'What a bunch of clowns!'
The Estonian vessel comes close to the tanker seeking to swerve it to the right.
7
The Russians communicated with the Estonians
Credit: East2West
7
The Jaguar oil tanker flying a Gabon flag, thought to be part of Russia's shadow fleet
Credit: East2West
An Estonian A139 helicopter and an M-28 Skytruck plane of the Estonian defence forces were seen circling the vessel.
Boasting a success against the West, pro-Kremlin news outlet Izvestia reported: 'Despite this show of force, the Estonian authorities were unable to stop the vessel.
'The Jaguar ultimately reached Gogland Island, a Russian-controlled territory in the Gulf [of Finland], and resumed its route to Primorsk'.
Russian outlet News-Pravda reported, 'Sailors from the Baltic Republic [Estonia] twice tried to land troops from a helicopter.'
After the extraordinary clash, Nato state Estonia summoned the Russian Chargé d'Affaires in Tallinn, Lenar Salimullin, who was handed a note of protest, accusing the Putin warplane of violating the republic's airspace.
Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna said: "From Estonia's point of view, this is a very serious and regrettable incident that is in no way unacceptable."
He demanded that Russia "must face tougher, faster sanctions" .
The tanker had been near Naissaar Island, off Tallinn, when the Estonian Navy communicated with it by radio at 15:30 GMT on Tuesday, said Commander Ivo Vark.
He added that it was was sailing "without a nationality' and Estonia "had an obligation to verify the vessel's documents and legal status".
"The vessel denied cooperation and continued its journey toward Russia [...] given the vessel's lack of nationality, the use of force, including boarding the vessel, was deemed unnecessary.'
Estonia escorted it until the vessel reached Russian waters.
Estonian Defence Minister Hanno Pevkur said the ship was sent from Estonian to Russian territorial waters to prevent a threat to his country's critical infrastructure.
7
Russia continues to send devastating missiles into Ukraine
Credit: AP
7
The aftermath of a Russian firestorm on the Sumy region of Ukraine this week
Credit: AP
He said: "The issue was the ship's flag state, and our most important goal was to ensure the security of critical infrastructure. This was achieved."
The 800-ft long Jaguar is a crude oil tanker reportedly sailing under the flag of Gabon.
The Equasis database suggested the ship changed its name and flag state at the beginning of February.
According to this data its name is now Argent and its flag state is Guinea-Bissau.
Putin uses a vast network of non-Russian tankers - called a shadow fleet - to avoid oil sanctions.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Telegraph
35 minutes ago
- Telegraph
Trump thought Zelensky's Russian air base strikes were ‘badass'
Donald Trump was so impressed by Ukraine's audacious drone raids on Russian warplanes that he described them as 'badass' to aides. Mr Trump has kept unusually quiet about the Sunday attack on airfields deep inside Russia as he tries to keep both sides talking to each other. But a report published on Thursday revealed he thought the strikes were 'strong' even as he worried that it would make peace efforts more complicated. 'He thought it was badass,' a source told Axios. An adviser said: 'From an international perspective, you've got a chihuahua inflicting some real damage on a much bigger dog.' Kyiv's weekend strikes on airfields destroyed and damaged nuclear-capable aircraft and infuriated Moscow. 'Operation Spider's Web' was reportedly 18 months in the planning. But it leaves Mr Trump with a dilemma. Throughout his dealings with Moscow and Kyiv he has openly worried that the conflict could lead to a Third World War, and influential voices in his Maga coalition, such as Steve Bannon, have publicly warned Ukraine's strikes were 'escalatory' and likely to trigger a brutal Russian response. A third source told Axios: 'We want this war to end. We want it to de-escalate. So if Putin goes crazy in response, yeah, the president has concerns.' Mr Trump has shied from adding extra sanctions or heaping more pressure on Russia to force it to compromise. He spoke to Mr Putin by phone on Wednesday. He posted on social media afterwards: 'President Putin did say, and very strongly, that he will have to respond to the recent attack on the airfields.' The Russian president has repeatedly rejected calls for a 30-day ceasefire, insisting that it would simply allow Ukraine to rearm and reorganise. The result is an impasse for Mr Trump, who came to power promising to end the conflict on day one of his presidency. On Thursday, Moscow said it would decide 'how and when' to respond. When Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin spokesman, was asked what Russia's response would be, he said: 'As and when our military deems it appropriate.' The issue is reaching a crucial round of diplomacy. Mr Trump hosts Friedrich Merz, the new German chancellor, at the White House on Thursday. Germany is the second biggest backer of Ukraine after the US. Then he flies to Canada for a G7 summit followed by a Nato meeting in the Netherlands before the end of the month.
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
US tells Britain it needs to spends 5% on defence and 'it's important they get there' as US prepares for WW3
The United States has urged Britain to hike its defence spending to five per cent as NATO members close in on agreeing new targets. Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a NATO summit today, US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth singled out Britain in a call to urgently raise its spending. 'Our friends in the UK... we're going to get there,' he said, after meeting with fellow defence ministers to discuss revised commitments across the bloc. 'We think everyone is going to get there, we really do. It's important they do. It's important that the UK gets there.' Hegseth has been crusading to get partners in Europe to shoulder more of the financial burden as the US recalibrates its focus towards China. No country has yet reached the five per cent goal - not even the US - but Hegseth said today there was progress on agreeing to the target after talks in Brussels. 'I'm very encouraged by what we heard in there,' he said after this morning's meeting with fellow defence ministers. 'Countries in there are well exceeding two per cent and we think very close, almost near consensus, on a five per cent commitment to NATO.' Sir Keir Starmer is now set to meet the head of NATO next week, with the alliance expected to call on countries to increase spending. Downing Street has said that the Prime Minister is likely to raise the question of how 'we can ensure all allies meet their stated pledges in support of our collective defence', when he meets secretary general Mark Rutte on Monday. Rutte is thought to be pushing for members to commit to spending 3.5% on the military, with a further 1.5% on defence-related measures. Still, the sum is a far cry from pledges made to date. Britain's long-awaited strategic defence review (SDR), unveiled this week, detailed ambitions to reach three per cent in the next parliament. In 2014, NATO Heads of State and Government agreed to commit two per cent of their GDP to defence spending in the wake of Russia's illegal annexation of Crimea. But a decade later, just 22 allies of 32 members were expected to meet or exceed the target. It was a significant jump from three in 2014. 'This alliance, we believe, in a matter of weeks, will be committing to five percent - 3.5 percent in hard military and 1.5 percent in infrastructure and defence-related activities,' Hegseth said after Thursday's talks. 'That combination constitutes a real commitment, and we think every country can step up.' Military spending has been under close scrutiny across the bloc since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Donald Trump repeatedly accused his predecessor, Joe Biden, of sending huge sums to Ukraine - citing contested figures much larger than anything reported - before suspending aid to Kyiv in March. While the administration has since resumed some aid sales to Ukraine and agreed a critical minerals deal with the country, Hegseth has told allies that they cannot expect the US to prop up Kyiv in the face of an increasingly belligerent Russia. Speaking ahead of today's summit, Hegseth touted 'deterrence and peace through strength', but warned 'it can't be reliance'. 'It cannot and will not be reliance on America in a world of a lot of threats,' he said. 'Every shoulder has to be to the plough. Every country has to contribute at that level of 5% as a recognition of the threat.' He did soften some of the rhetoric employed earlier this year, assuring allies that the US is 'proud to be here' and to 'stand with our allies'. Arriving in Brussels, Rutte told reporters he expects allies will 'agree on capability targets' today. 'What we will do today is to decide what do we defend ourselves,' he said. 'So, as you know, to prepare for war, spend more. And when you originally prepared for war, you will not be attacked.' 'We're here to continue the work that President Trump started, which is a commitment to 5% defence spending across the alliance, which we think will happen,' Hegseth had stressed ahead of the summit. But most partners are some way off the target sought by the United States. All members increased their military spending in 2024 against the backdrop of the War in Ukraine. Total military spending amounted to $1506bn, or 55% of global military expenditure, with 18 of 32 members spending at least 2% of GDP on their militaries, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. Of that sum, the US alone spent $997bn, or 66% of the bloc's total spend. According to the most recent available data from NATO, 22 allies were expected to meet or exceed the target of investing at least two per cent of GDP in defence last year. Poland, one of the most rapidly militarising members, is expected to spend 4.7% on defence in 2025. Sir Keir Starmer unveiled the long-awaited strategic defence review (SDR) at the Govan shipbuilding yard in Scotland this week, setting out a path to transform Britain's defence capabilities over the next decade. 'As the UK steps up to take on more responsibility for European security, we must have a 'NATO first' defence policy and lead within the Alliance,' a statement from the Ministry of Defence read, issued Monday. 'The UK will become the leading edge of innovation in NATO.' The review, compiled by a team led by Labour peer and former NATO chief Lord George Robertson, made a total of 62 recommendations to make Britain war ready, including: An 'ambition to reach 3%' GDP spending in the next parliament - but no hard commitment; Building up to 12 attack submarines for the Royal Navy via the AUKUS alliance with Australia and the United States; Investment of £15bn in Britain's sovereign warhead programme in this parliament; Investment in munitions and building at least six new energetics and munitions factories in the UK, creating more than 1,000 jobs; Increasing the size of the regular Army from 73,000 to 76,000 in the next parliament; A Defence Readiness Bill, giving the government 'additional powers' to support the mobilisation of industry and Reserves for war-readiness; Wider MoD spending on novel technologies each year, with ambitions to become a leading tech-enabled defence power' by 2035. European defence companies welcomed the review. Hugo Vanbockryck, Senior Vice President, Market Area Europe at Patria, told MailOnline: 'The Strategic Defence Review represents a significant and welcome shift in the UK's approach to defence preparedness and industrial strategy.' 'We fully support the UK government's commitment to rebuilding defence capabilities and strengthening alliances. 'Putin's illegal invasion of Ukraine has underscored the need for deeper collaboration among European allies and the importance of warfighting readiness, principles clearly reflected in the Review's NATO-first doctrine.' The Finnish defence company earlier this year agreed a partnership with London's Babcock to develop a 6x6 Armoured Personnel Carrier to be offered to the UK Armed Forces. Economists warned that tax rises may be needed to fund proposals outlined in the strategic defence review.
The Independent
an hour ago
- The Independent
Denmark blasts ‘unacceptable' pressure from Trump over Greenland
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has asserted that Denmark will not succumb to "unacceptable" pressure from the United States regarding control of semi-autonomous Greenland, emphasising the importance of Greenlanders' right to self-determination. President Donald Trump has expressed interest in the United States acquiring the strategically important, mineral-rich Arctic island for national and international security reasons, even suggesting the potential use of force. Frederiksen, in a National Day speech, stated, "The world order we've built through generations is being challenged like never before." She added, "In recent months Greenland and Denmark have been subjected to unacceptable pressure from our closest ally," alluding to the United States. US Vice President JD Vance visited the island in March, criticising Denmark, a fellow NATO member, for its handling of Greenland's safety. Vance proposed that the United States could provide better protection for the territory. Vance's visit occurred after the Demokraatit party's election victory in Greenland. The party advocates for a gradual approach to independence, differing from other parties that propose a more rapid departure. Leaders of Denmark and Greenland have said only Greenlanders can decide the territory's future, and the Danish constitution gives the island the right to seek independence. Fundamental principles in the transatlantic relationship such as national sovereignty, the respect for borders and people's right to self-determination are now at stake, Frederiksen said. "But we don't bend. We Danes are not like that," she added. Denmark's King Frederik, who is popular in Greenland, visited the island in late April in a show of unity amid the diplomatic stand-off with Trump. A 1951 agreement between the United States and Denmark gives the US the right to construct military bases in Greenland as long as Denmark and Greenland are notified. The island, whose capital Nuuk is closer to New York than Copenhagen, boasts mineral, oil and natural gas wealth, but development has been slow and the mining sector has seen very limited US investment.
