Estonian navy detains Russia-bound oil tanker in Baltic Sea

[blue-wave]

Source: Reuters

VILNIUS, April 11 (Reuters) - The Estonian navy detained and boarded a Russia-bound oil tanker on an EU sanctions list on Friday, accusing it of sailing illegally without a valid country flag.

The vessel, the Kiwala, has been under EU sanctions since February as part of Russia's so-called "shadow fleet", a term Western countries use for ships they say Moscow deploys to circumvent international sanctions. The ships are typically not regulated or insured by conventional Western providers.

The Kiwala was on its way to Russia at the time of the seizure, MarineTraffic data showed. It was flying a Djibouti flag, but an Estonian Transport Authority official said Djibouti had denied that it was registered there.

Reuters was not immediately able to reach Djibouti authorities for comment. Russia's foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

"Early this morning, the Estonian navy detained a sanctioned vessel with no flag state," Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal said in a post on social media X.

Read more: https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/estonian-navy-detains-boards-russia-bound-oil-tanker-baltic-sea-2025-04-11/

---

Now this is how you win against evil. Little tiny Estonia showed some real muscle and fortitude here. A big THANK YOU to Estonia!!! Now let's see what kind of cowering to Russia our American envoys (in Russia right now) bring home.

[lark]

1. Assface probably wants to declare war on Estonia today in the name of his puppeteer.

[riversedge]

2. Good for you Estonia

[Igel]

3. Pump out the oil.

Sell it and give the proceeds to Ukraine.

Then decommission the Kiwala via Estonian naval target practice several mm this side of the Russian 'border' crossing the Finskiy zaliv ... Um ... Gulf of Finland.

Add to it all future such seizures ... Eventually maybe the Russians will have a "safe harbor" from the wicked west.

[maxsolomon]

9. It was heading TO Rusher.

Probably empty since Russia's a major exporter.

[tavernier]

4. I have crossed the Baltic from Estonia to Finland

in February on an icebreaker at night. The ship lights shining on the churning ice below reminded me of the Titanic film and I couldn’t imagine anyone surviving five minutes in those waters. Certainly the weather is warmer now two months later, but it’s still not Hawaii. It would take guts to board an unfriendly vessel in those waters I would think.

[blue-wave]

5. The Estonians know

the danger an imperial Russia poses to the world. Their history taught them all about the Kremlin's brutality. Their guts are likely partially genetic and partially learned.

[tavernier]

6. Yes, I am first generation Latvian to US after WWII

The brutality never stopped even after Latvia regained independence. Putin micromanages every Soviet in the Baltics.

[blue-wave]

7. If only

more Americans would realize that Putin is not the Christian friend they believe him to be. I am actually appalled by the numbers of people fooled by Russian propaganda. My family too, knows the horrors of Russian occupation. It is anything but Christian.

[blue-wave]

8. I wanted to add this:

A link to an Azerbaijani news outlet showing Witkoff on his recent visit to meet with Putin. Watch the video. Witkoff greets Putin with his hand over his heart.

https://en.axar.az/news/world/964569.html