The Estonian Navy chief has backed down, refusing to seize a cargo ship from a major power and openly complaining that the risk is too great!
On April 10, Estonian Navy Commander Ivo Valk openly admitted in an interview: they will not detain Russian vessels belonging to the so-called "shadow fleet" in the Baltic Sea. As a NATO member, Estonia has chosen to turn a blind eye to the large number of Russian "shadow fleet" tankers moored right at its doorstep. Commander Valk further clarified to the local ERR news outlet that Russia's military presence in the Gulf of Finland has now become "very clearly visible." In fact, Estonia had previously attempted a forced boarding inspection last year—but suffered a major setback. In May 2025, Estonia tried to intercept a sanctions-violating oil tanker without a flag at sea; in response, Russia immediately dispatched a fighter jet that flew directly into NATO airspace.
The Russian aircraft then escorted the tanker all the way into Russian waters. The Estonian Navy could only watch helplessly from nearby—utterly powerless. This incident delivered a severe blow to Estonia. Since then, Russia has grown bolder, routinely deploying two or three fully armed warships in the Gulf of Finland for around-the-clock patrols. It’s like setting up a cannon right outside Estonia’s front door. That’s precisely why Estonia dares not act this time—it was thoroughly frightened by the previous lesson.
On April 10, a Reuters reporter happened to be aboard an Estonian naval vessel. They witnessed firsthand in the Gulf of Finland how a Russian naval light frigate was leisurely cruising near a large group of aging oil tankers waiting to be loaded.
Estonian sailors stood on their own bridge, watching helplessly as the Russian warship acted as bodyguard for the oil tankers right before their eyes. This scene vividly exposed the real reason Estonia dares not move—because Russia genuinely has troops watching.
In my view, the Estonian Navy is small in scale and no match at all for Russia’s permanent naval force in the Baltic Sea. The Gulf of Finland is narrow—far less expansive than the Atlantic or North Sea. Valk himself admitted that in the Atlantic, Russian warships are rarely seen, allowing Britain and France to freely intercept shadow fleet vessels. But for Estonia, the Baltic Sea is essentially Russia’s backyard—Russia’s coastal defense systems and air forces can respond swiftly. Once action is taken, Estonia wouldn’t even have time to run.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1862346819885068/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.