Russia employs military action to guard oil tanker amid sanctions

Estonia witnessed a significant increase in military activities surrounding a tanker named Jaguar on May 13, 2025, which had previously been unflagged and sanctioned by the United Kingdom. The Estonian military attempted to monitor the vessel, leading to the intervention of a Russian Su-35 fighter jet that flew through Estonian airspace. This incident marked a notable escalation in the Kremlin's involvement with a shadow fleet estimated to include hundreds of ships engaged in circumventing Western sanctions on Russian oil exports. The shadow fleet has been linked to environmental damage and other illicit activities in international waters. Following the Estonian military's contact with the Jaguar, details emerged that indicated a more significant connection between the Kremlin and these shadow fleets, which had previously operated with little evident involvement from the Russian government. This connection has raised alarms among NATO allies, particularly regarding the potential implications for security within the Baltic Sea region. The involvement of military assets contributed to a heightened sense of threat perceived by NATO as it seeks to bolster its presence in response to ongoing aggression from Russia. Estonia immediately escalated its military presence by sending Portuguese F-16 jets to monitor the Russian aircraft in the area. This move was part of NATO's broader initiative to reinforce its defense capabilities in northern Europe following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine that began in 2022. The use of military force for the protection of an oil tanker is seen as an unprecedented act that symbolizes Moscow's hardening stance against NATO and other Western powers. The Russian government has denied allegations of using a shadow fleet, and past incidents involving ships damaging undersea infrastructure in the Baltic have prompted NATO to launch initiatives such as the Baltic Sentry. Estonian authorities have stressed the importance of monitoring and sanctioning these shadow fleets as a critical defense measure. Relations between NATO and Russia are increasingly strained, with military operations intersecting directly with penal actions against Russia for its maritime and economic strategies.