Russia Seizes Greek Tanker Departing from Estonia in Unprecedented Move

Russia has seized a Greek oil tanker, “Green Admire”, marking the first known case of its kind involving a vessel departing from the Estonian port of Sillamäe.

The Gaze reports on this with reference to Estonia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The “Green Admire”, which was sailing under the Liberian flag, was intercepted in Russian territorial waters while following a previously agreed-upon maritime route. This route had been established jointly by Russia, Estonia, and Finland to ensure maritime safety and did not closely follow national borders.

Estonian officials emphasized that this incident highlights Russia’s increasingly unpredictable behavior. “These events once again demonstrate the Kremlin’s disregard for established protocols,” said Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna, who confirmed he had alerted international allies.

In response to the seizure, Estonia announced that all ships headed to or from Sillamäe will now be rerouted strictly through Estonian territorial waters to avoid similar confrontations.

The incident follows another maritime confrontation, when Estonia’s Navy attempted to intercept the “Jaguar” tanker traveling through international waters in the Gulf of Finland toward Russia’s Primorsk port. The vessel, suspected to be part of Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet,” refused to comply with Estonian border guard instructions and eventually left the country’s exclusive economic zone. The “Jaguar” is listed under British sanctions.

Following that event, Russia reportedly sent a fighter jet that violated Estonian airspace, which Tallinn views as a provocative response to Estonia’s enforcement of maritime sanctions.

Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal reaffirmed that Estonia will continue inspecting vessels linked to Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet,” despite a recent airspace violation by a Russian fighter jet, underscoring the country’s unwavering stance against Moscow’s covert maritime operations.

As The Gaze reported earlier, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has sharply criticized Russia’s military interference in a maritime enforcement operation led by Estonia, calling it a “troubling escalation” that underscores the Kremlin’s increasing boldness in the Baltic region.