Estonia Confirms Naval Incident Involving Civilian Vessel in Baltic Sea

On May 14, 2025, Estonian Interior Minister Igor Taro confirmed an incident involving the Estonian Navy’s attempt to intercept the civilian tanker JAGUAR in the Gulf of Finland. The tanker, sailing under the Gabonese flag, was en route to the Russian port of Primorsk in the Leningrad Region.

The report was made public by the Estonian news outlet ERR, citing Taro’s remarks about the event, which highlighted deficiencies in Estonia’s maritime and aerial response capabilities.

“We lack various capabilities, including the ability to land on ships from both sea and air,” Taro stated. “Addressing this requires significant investment and long-term planning.”

The confrontation occurred on the morning of May 13 in neutral waters approximately 50 kilometers from Tallinn. Estonian military officials suspected the JAGUAR of being part of Russia’s “shadow fleet,” which is known to circumvent Western sanctions on oil exports. According to The Insider, the tanker, linked to the Indian company Gatik Ship Management, was transporting oil from the Indian port of Sikka and has previously sailed under the flags of Mongolia and St. Kitts.

To intercept the vessel, Estonia deployed several assets, including the patrol boat EML Raju, the patrol ship Kurvits, an AgustaWestland AW139 helicopter, and a PZL M28 Skytruck aircraft. Polish MiG-29 fighters also participated in the operation, demonstrating NATO’s involvement. Estonian sailors attempted to communicate with the JAGUAR’s crew, instructing them to change course toward Estonian waters for inspection, and threatened to ram the vessel while making two attempts to land troops via helicopter, as reported by Pravda Estonia.

Despite these warnings, the JAGUAR’s crew—primarily composed of Russian sailors—refused to comply and continued its journey to Primorsk. Tensions escalated when a Russian Su-35S fighter jet appeared, reportedly escorting the tanker to port.

In response, Estonia accused Russia of violating its airspace and issued a note of protest. The Russian Foreign Ministry retorted, labeling Estonia’s actions as “piracy” and a breach of international maritime law, since the vessel was operating in neutral waters.