Latest news with #Su-35
Miami Herald
27-05-2025
- Politics
- Miami Herald
Putin Giving ‘Shadow Fleet' Warship Escorts: Finland Defense Official
Russian President Vladimir Putin has deployed warships to escort his covert "shadow fleet" of oil tankers, according to Finnish Defense Minister Antti Häkkänen. Putin's military vessels are now guarding the fleet through the Gulf of Finland, the official said, calling the move unprecedented. Newsweek reached out to Russia's Foreign Ministry via email for comment. Russia put together its so-called "shadow fleet" to circumvent curbs on its oil exports in response to Western sanctions levied after Putin's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Operating primarily in the Baltic Sea, the fleet consists of older tankers with opaque ownership structures, often lacking proper insurance and frequently changing flag registrations. These vessels account for approximately 17 percent of the global oil tanker fleet. The alleged deployment of warships to guard the fleet is significant as it signals a clear link to the Kremlin. "The Russian military presence in the region has always been visible, this is not a new feature. However, what is new is that Russia is protecting its shadow fleet tankers in the narrow passage of the Gulf of Finland," Häkkänen told Finnish broadcasting company Yle on Saturday. "Military escort and the presence of armed forces is observed. This is a completely new thing," Häkkänen said. Experts say the vessels are being used by Russia to circumvent curbs on its oil exports. Officials have also sounded the alarm that vessels from the Russian shadow fleet can be used for signals intelligence, or intercepting communications. NATO officials have also accused Moscow of using such vessels to carry out sabotage of critical infrastructure, such as undersea cables. Russia has not commented on the shadow fleet. Häkkänen said Finland doesn't consider the deployment of warships a direct threat to the country yet, but "it's clear that Russia is strengthening its military capabilities and remains an aggressive and dangerous neighbor to all of Europe." On Friday, the Finnish Ministry of Defense announced that two Russian military aircraft had violated the country's airspace off the coast of Porvoo, prompting an investigation into the incident. Meanwhile, Russia also sparked alarm when it was reported to have deployed a Su-35 fighter jet inside Estonian airspace to protect an oil tanker on May 13. "This fighter jet violated NATO territory for one minute. This is something very new," Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna said at a NATO meeting in Turkey. "We need to understand that Russia has officially tied and connected itself to the Russian shadow fleet." He added: "We need to understand that the situation is really serious." NATO member states have held talks on how to seize Putin's shadow fleet, Politico reported in February, citing two European Union diplomats and two government officials. Some have suggested seizing the vessels on the grounds of international law, either for environmental reasons or piracy. The EU and Britain adopted sanctions this month against the shadow fleet. United States President Donald Trump has also extended a Biden-era ban on Russian ships docking in U.S. ports, citing national security concerns. The European Parliament said in November 2024: "To evade sanctions, the Russian 'shadow fleet' makes use of flags of convenience and intricate ownership and management structures while employing a variety of tactics to conceal the origins of its cargo, including: ship-to-ship transfers; automatic identification system blackouts; falsified positions; transmission of false data; and other deceptive or even illegal techniques. In addition to bolstering its war chest, Russia's 'shadow fleet', which consists of a growing number of aging and poorly maintained vessels that operate with minimal regard to the regulations, poses significant environmental, maritime safety, and security risks. "As Russia depends increasingly on its 'shadow fleet' to maintain oil exports, the EU and allied nations have implemented measures to counter these evasive tactics. These include imposing targeted sanctions on specific vessels and enhancing international collaboration to disrupt such activities." NATO officials will continue to monitor the activities of the fleet for possible sabotage activities. Polish Defense Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz has vowed a "firm response" should there be any attack on infrastructure in the Baltic Sea. Related Articles Zelensky Raises Alarm Over New Russian Offensive: 'Ample Evidence'Putin's Henchman Addresses Rumors He's DyingPutin Ally Shares Map Of 'Buffer Zone' Covering All Of UkraineRussia Sees $1 Billion Wiped off Stock Market After Trump's Putin Comments 2025 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.
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!
Egypt Independent
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Egypt Independent
Russian fighter jet protects ‘shadow fleet' vessel in first such move by Moscow, officials say
CNN — Until last week, a secretive fleet of ships ferrying Russian oil around the world showed no clear links to the Kremlin. That changed when, in a dramatic escalation, Russia used a fighter jet in an apparent effort to protect one of the tankers thought to be in the fleet. After the Estonian military contacted the Jaguar – an unflagged tanker sanctioned by the United Kingdom earlier this month – on May 13 in an attempt to carry out checks, a Russian Su-35 fighter jet flew past the ship, inside Estonian airspace, the Estonian Defense Forces said. The military eventually escorted the tanker out of Estonian waters. 'This is something very new,' Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna told reporters Thursday at a NATO meeting in Turkey. Russia has now 'officially tied and connected itself' to the so-called shadow fleet, he added. Others agree. 'This seems to be a step-change in Kremlin thinking,' Ed Arnold, a senior research fellow at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), a UK-based think tank, told CNN. Estimated to be hundreds of vessels strong, with no official ties to Russia, the 'shadow fleet' includes many old, poorly maintained ships, which have in some instances wreaked environmental havoc and, according to some, have been implicated in damage to vital undersea cables off the Baltic coast. Russia has denied any role in the damage. The tankers, many with opaque ownership structures, transport Russian oil for export to avoid Western sanctions. As such, they have themselves become a focus of further sanctions on Moscow. Russia's use, for the first time, of 'military action' in response to economic sanctions 'is a testament to the level of the threat that we're facing on the eastern flank of NATO,' French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot told journalists at the meeting in Turkey. Video shot from the bridge of the Jaguar, which appears to have been edited, shows a radio call from Estonian authorities demanding the ship change course, with Estonian military ships and aircraft visible around the tanker. CNN has corroborated details of the footage, which was shared online by Margarita Simonyan, editor in chief of Russian state media outlet RT. An aircraft flies near a Russian-bound oil tanker at sea, Gulf of Finland, in this screengrab taken from social media, May 13, 2025. Social Media/Reuters Later in the video, a sole Russian Su-35 fighter jet sweeps ahead of the tanker, which was previously named the Argent, according to shipping records and the UK government. In response, Portuguese F-16 jets on a NATO mission in Estonia were rushed to the area to monitor the Russian aircraft, NATO said. The jets are part of a strengthened NATO presence in northern Europe since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. 'Probably what the Kremlin is trying to do is push back on that, so in the hope that NATO nations get spooked by what happened (last Tuesday),' said Arnold at RUSI. 'There will be those within NATO who are a bit worried about this and say, 'Well, hang on, do we really want to risk starting a wider confrontation with Russia over one ship?'' 'Reaction' to larger NATO presence For the Estonians, the Russian jet's intrusion into Estonian air space is proof that Western sanctions are biting. The incident 'demonstrates that monitoring and sanctioning the shadow fleet is effective and that such efforts must be further intensified,' the Estonian Defense Forces said in a statement. CNN was not able to locate the registered owner of the Jaguar for comment. The Russian Ministry of Defense has declined to respond to CNN's request for comment. The Kremlin has previously refused to respond to accusations that it uses a 'shadow fleet.' In January, following repeated incidents in which ships caused damage to undersea infrastructure in the Baltic Sea, NATO launched the 'Baltic Sentry' initiative to bolster its military presence in the waters. 'We see the (Tuesday) incident as a reaction to Baltic Sentry,' Col. Martin O'Donnell, a NATO spokesman, told CNN. 'Russia's destabilizing actions will not deter us from acting within international law to maintain maritime security, safety and freedom of navigation.' German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Friday that a new sanctions package could be adopted as early as Tuesday after Russian President Vladimir Putin failed to join Russia's talks with Ukraine in Turkey last week. Merz had said earlier that Russia's 'shadow fleet' – 'permanently operating in the Baltic Sea with up to 300 ships' – would be specifically targeted in this package. In a possible tit-for-tat move, a Greek-owned oil tanker, Green Admire, was detained Sunday by Russia as it transited Russian waters on a route agreed by Estonia, Finland and Russia, Estonia's foreign minister posted on X. CNN has reached out to the vessel's owner and the Russian foreign ministry for comment. The Russian foreign ministry has not responded. Estonian authorities have conducted more than 450 checks on vessels in Tallinn-controlled waters in the Baltic Sea since last June, according to the country's transport ministry. This includes the Gulf of Finland, one of the principal conduits for Russian overseas trade.
Scottish Sun
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Scottish Sun
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.
The Irish Sun
15-05-2025
- Politics
- The Irish Sun
Watch dramatic Nato vs Russia sea clash erupt as warplanes buzz Putin's ‘shadow fleet' vessel as it's ordered ‘stop NOW'
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. Advertisement 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. Advertisement read more on russia 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.' Advertisement Most read in The US Sun Exclusive 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….' Advertisement 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 Advertisement 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'. Advertisement 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" . Advertisement 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. Advertisement 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." Advertisement 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. Advertisement
