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.
Why It Matters
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.
What To Know
“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.
What People Are Saying
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.”
What Happens Next
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.
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