Latest news with #GreenAdmire
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Russia uses warships to protect its shadow fleet
Russia has started using warships to escort shadow fleet tankers in the Gulf of Finland for the first time. Source: Moscow Times Quote: "Russia has always had a military presence in the region... What is new is that Russia is now protecting tankers belonging to its shadow fleet in the narrow waters of the Gulf of Finland. This has involved military escort operations and the presence of armed forces," said Finnish Defence Minister Antti Häkkänen. Details: The Finnish Navy confirmed the increase in military traffic in the region. Häkkänen stressed that he did not consider this a direct threat to Finland but noted: "But it's clear that Russia is strengthening its military capabilities and remains an aggressive and dangerous neighbour to all of Europe." On 13 May, Estonia attempted to stop the Jaguar tanker, which belongs to the Kremlin's shadow fleet. In response, Russia launched a Su-35 fighter jet that violated NATO airspace to escort the vessel to the port of Primorsk. Background: On 19 May, the Russian authorities released the Green Admire tanker, which had been detained in Russian territorial waters on 18 May after leaving the port of Sillamäe, Estonia, with a shale oil cargo. The French Navy deployed the 101-metre-long reconnaissance vessel Dupuy de Lome to the Baltic Sea for the first time to intercept radio signals related to Russian activities. Estonia decided not to use the route that passes through Russian territorial waters any more after Russia detained the Green Admire oil tanker. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
Daily Tribune
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Daily Tribune
Russia Releases Greek-Owned Oil Tanker After Seizure in Baltic Sea
Russia has released the Green Admire, a Greek-owned oil tanker flying a Liberian flag, days after detaining the vessel in its territorial waters, Estonian public broadcaster ERR reported. Russian authorities seized the tanker on Sunday after it left the Estonian port of Sillamäe and navigated through a legally designated channel crossing Russian waters. According to ship tracking data from LSEG, it is now en route to the Dutch port of Rotterdam. Estonia's Foreign Ministry condemned the seizure, with Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna suggesting it was a retaliatory move by Moscow in response to Estonia's crackdown on Russia's so-called 'shadow fleet' — a group of aging tankers used to transport Russian oil covertly across the Baltic Sea. The Estonian Navy has been actively inspecting such ships in recent weeks. 'This incident shows that Russia continues to behave unpredictably,' Tsahkna said, confirming he had alerted NATO allies about the situation. In response to the incident, Estonia will reroute maritime traffic to and from Sillamäe through exclusively Estonian waters to avoid further confrontations. The incident follows heightened regional tensions, including the recent breach of NATO airspace by a Russian fighter jet after Estonia intercepted a suspected shadow fleet vessel. The Russian shadow fleet largely consists of outdated tankers operated by opaque entities registered in countries like the UAE or Marshall Islands, and flagged in jurisdictions such as Gabon or the Cook Islands. Some of these ships have also been accused of transporting stolen Ukrainian grain. The European Union has targeted these vessels with sanctions, adding 70 new ships to its blacklist in February, with more expected to be sanctioned in the coming days.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Russia releases Green Admire tanker seized after leaving Estonian port
Moscow released the oil tanker Green Admire on May 19, a day after detaining the vessel in Russian territorial waters as it transited from Estonia, Estonian Public Broadcasting (ERR) reported. The detention followed recent moves by Estonia and its neighbors to clamp down on Russia's so-called "shadow fleet," which is used to bypass Western oil sanctions. The Green Admire, a Liberian-flagged vessel owned by a Greek company, departed the Estonian port of Sillamae on May 18 carrying shale oil. Its route — agreed upon in advance by Estonia, Russia, and Finland — crossed Russian territorial waters, where it was intercepted by Russian authorities. Estonian officials said the ship had followed its planned navigation route but was seized after allegedly failing to respond to repeated Russian warnings upon entering a zone Moscow had unilaterally declared "dangerous for navigation." Estonia's Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna said the detention was likely tied to growing pressure on Russia's shadow fleet, which Western nations have accused of illegally transporting oil in defiance of international sanctions. The incident occurred just days after Russia reportedly violated NATO airspace with a Su-35 fighter jet during Estonia's attempt to intercept a flagless tanker suspected of operating as part of the shadow fleet. The Estonian Navy had previously detained such a vessel on April 11, marking the first enforcement action against Russia's covert maritime trade network in the region. Baltic countries have voiced alarm over what they describe as increasing Russian military activity in the area. Latvia's Military Intelligence and Security Service (MIDD) warned earlier this month of a heightened risk of unintended incidents due to Russia's aggressive naval and aerial maneuvers. Read also: EU approves 17th package of Russia sanctions, targets shadow fleet We've been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Straits Times
20-05-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
Russia releases oil tanker from Baltic Sea detention, Estonian broadcaster says
COPENHAGEN - Russia has released a Greek-owned oil tanker which was detained in Russian waters on Sunday after leaving an Estonian port, and the vessel has resumed its journey towards the Dutch port of Rotterdam, Estonian public broadcaster ERR reported on Tuesday. The Liberia-flagged Green Admire appeared to be underway in the Baltic Sea on Tuesday with its destination listed as Rotterdam and was estimated to arrive there on May 24, according to ship tracking data on the MarineTraffic platform. The vessel's Athens-based manager Aegean Shipping did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Norway's Skuld, one of the tanker's insurers, declined to comment on Tuesday. The detention of the vessel has raised growing concerns over potential escalation in busy Baltic sea lanes after separate action by Estonia in recent days to stop tankers as part of enforcing Western sanctions on Russia. Green Admire had left the Sillamae port in Estonia using a designated navigation channel that crosses Russian territorial waters after which it was detained, the Estonian Foreign Ministry said on Sunday. "Expect heightened maritime security risks, particularly around vessels transporting oil from or to Baltic ports, including the increased likelihood of arbitrary detentions, military posturing, and freedom of navigation impediments," UK maritime security company Ambrey said in a note on Tuesday. Estonia's foreign minister has said Russia's action against the Green Admire was likely a response to a campaign by the Estonian navy to inspect tankers used to transport millions of barrels of Russian oil through the Baltic Sea. 'SHADOW FLEET' TANKERS The spokeswoman of Russia's foreign ministry on Tuesday accused NATO of trying to control Baltic shipping lanes and she said that Moscow would react to any unlawful actions by vessels of the Atlantic alliance's member states. "NATO is trying to present the Baltic Sea as its own internal sea," Maria Zakharova told a weekly briefing in Moscow. Russia, rejecting Western efforts to pressure its oil exports over its war in Ukraine, has turned to hundreds of so-called 'shadow fleet' tankers to transport cargoes to buyers in Asia. The vessels typically have opaque ownership structures and sail without top-tier Western insurance or safety certification cover. They often have unknown insurers or assessors of vessel seaworthiness - both required for ocean-going commercial ships, shipping and insurance industry sources familiar with the matter have said. "It is a realistic possibility that if Baltic Sea nations continue to strengthen their adversarial posture toward the sanctioned vessels in their waters, Russia will likely conduct reciprocal actions in the maritime domain, including detentions, seizures and plausible deniability attacks," Ambrey said. "The vessels operating in Estonian and Finnish waters are assessed as most likely targets for detentions." Estonia said on May 19 that all commercial traffic to and from Sillamae would be routed through Estonian territorial waters, which Ambrey said was likely "to limit exposure to Russian jurisdiction and military pressure". The EU and Britain announced new sanctions against Russia on Tuesday without waiting for the United States to join them, a day after President Donald Trump spoke to Vladimir Putin without winning a promise for a ceasefire in Ukraine. Apart from specific sanctions, the Group of Seven countries is also set to review a price ceiling on Russian oil sales locked at $60 a barrel. The EU will propose to G7 finance ministers this week to lower the current price cap to $50 a barrel. If approved, this would add to the heat faced by Moscow. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
The Star
20-05-2025
- Politics
- The Star
Russia releases oil tanker from Baltic Sea detention, Estonian broadcaster says
FILE PHOTO: Liberia-flagged crude oil tanker Green Admire transits the Bosphorus in Istanbul, Turkey, September 2, 2023. REUTERS/Yoruk Isik/File Photo COPENHAGEN (Reuters) -Russia has released a Greek-owned oil tanker which was detained in Russian waters on Sunday after leaving an Estonian port, and the vessel has resumed its journey towards the Dutch port of Rotterdam, Estonian public broadcaster ERR reported on Tuesday. The Liberia-flagged Green Admire appeared to be underway in the Baltic Sea on Tuesday with its destination listed as Rotterdam and was estimated to arrive there on May 24, according to ship tracking data on the MarineTraffic platform. The vessel's Athens-based manager Aegean Shipping did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Norway's Skuld, one of the tanker's insurers, declined to comment on Tuesday. The detention of the vessel has raised growing concerns over potential escalation in busy Baltic sea lanes after separate action by Estonia in recent days to stop tankers as part of enforcing Western sanctions on Russia. Green Admire had left the Sillamae port in Estonia using a designated navigation channel that crosses Russian territorial waters after which it was detained, the Estonian Foreign Ministry said on Sunday. "Expect heightened maritime security risks, particularly around vessels transporting oil from or to Baltic ports, including the increased likelihood of arbitrary detentions, military posturing, and freedom of navigation impediments," UK maritime security company Ambrey said in a note on Tuesday. Estonia's foreign minister has said Russia's action against the Green Admire was likely a response to a campaign by the Estonian navy to inspect tankers used to transport millions of barrels of Russian oil through the Baltic Sea. 'SHADOW FLEET' TANKERS The spokeswoman of Russia's foreign ministry on Tuesday accused NATO of trying to control Baltic shipping lanes and she said that Moscow would react to any unlawful actions by vessels of the Atlantic alliance's member states. "NATO is trying to present the Baltic Sea as its own internal sea," Maria Zakharova told a weekly briefing in Moscow. Russia, rejecting Western efforts to pressure its oil exports over its war in Ukraine, has turned to hundreds of so-called 'shadow fleet' tankers to transport cargoes to buyers in Asia. The vessels typically have opaque ownership structures and sail without top-tier Western insurance or safety certification cover. They often have unknown insurers or assessors of vessel seaworthiness - both required for ocean-going commercial ships, shipping and insurance industry sources familiar with the matter have said. "It is a realistic possibility that if Baltic Sea nations continue to strengthen their adversarial posture toward the sanctioned vessels in their waters, Russia will likely conduct reciprocal actions in the maritime domain, including detentions, seizures and plausible deniability attacks," Ambrey said. "The vessels operating in Estonian and Finnish waters are assessed as most likely targets for detentions." Estonia said on May 19 that all commercial traffic to and from Sillamae would be routed through Estonian territorial waters, which Ambrey said was likely "to limit exposure to Russian jurisdiction and military pressure". The EU and Britain announced new sanctions against Russia on Tuesday without waiting for the United States to join them, a day after President Donald Trump spoke to Vladimir Putin without winning a promise for a ceasefire in Ukraine. Apart from specific sanctions, the Group of Seven countries is also set to review a price ceiling on Russian oil sales locked at $60 a barrel. The EU will propose to G7 finance ministers this week to lower the current price cap to $50 a barrel. If approved, this would add to the heat faced by Moscow. (Reporting by Stine Jacobsen, Jonathan Saul and Renee MaltezouEditing by Gareth Jones )
