The Estonian Navy detained a Russia-bound oil tanker on April 11, 2025, after it entered the country’s territorial waters in the Baltic Sea without a valid national flag and with questionable legal status.
The vessel, named Kiwala, has been under European Union sanctions since February and is suspected of being part of Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet.”
The term “shadow fleet” is used by Western nations to describe vessels that are used by Moscow to dodge international sanctions and move oil without proper oversight.
These ships often operate without standard insurance or registration and are not regulated by traditional maritime systems.
According to shipping data, Kiwala was on its way from the port of Sikka in India to the Russian port of Ust-Luga when it was intercepted by Estonian authorities.
The vessel was initially flying the flag of Djibouti, but officials from the Estonian Transport Authority stated that Djibouti had denied registering the ship.
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