Estonian Navy Detains Russian-Bound Kiwala Oil Tanker

The Estonian Navy has detained the oil tanker Kiwala in the Baltic Sea due to its alleged lack of a flag state, which prohibits it from operating in open waters. The vessel, which is believed to be part of Russia's 'shadow fleet' and was en route to Russia's Ust-Luga port, has been sanctioned by the EU and several non-EU countries over previous activities. The operation took place early on Friday morning, with 24 crew members on board, including a cooperative Chinese captain. Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal emphasized the country's commitment to addressing suspicious maritime activities, while Navy Commander Ivo Värk clarified that the detention was not related to threats against critical infrastructure. The tanker is currently being inspected alongside two accompanying warships. The Kiwala has previously changed flags frequently to evade detection of its ties to Russia.