THIS is the dramatic moment NATO and Russia dispatched warplanes for a confrontation above the Baltic Sea following a tense encounter involving a covert Russian tanker.
Estonian sea and air forces pursued and attempted to board an oil tanker known as Jaguar—believed to be part of Russia’s covert fleet—but the tanker resisted their efforts.
The tanker was draped in the Gabon flag, but sanctioned by Britain on Friday over accusations it is a Russian pawn.
Nato aircraft – including Polish MiG-29s – were scrambled as the vessel refused to cooperate.
In response, Russia scrambled a Su-35S fighter jet which is said to have violated Estonian airspace as it stormed in to cover for the fleeing Jaguar.
In dramatic footage, the Polish Nato plane can be seen tailing the Russian Su-35 in a dogfight over the Gulf of Finland – part of the Baltic Sea.
A Russian voice on the bridge of the tanker goaded the Estonians, calling them “clowns” as they tried and failed to board.
The tanker ultimately anchored near Gogland Island – controlled by Russia – in the eastern Baltic Sea.
Footage shows the high drama in one of the most tense regions in the world amid disputes between Russia and Nato over Ukraine.
“This is how we’re greeted with helicopters,” said a voice -apparently Russian – on the tanker. “They’re demanding we anchor.”
A message is heard saying: “This is Estonian warship Papa 6732.
“Your request will be denied.
“Follow my instructions. Immediately change course to 105. Over.”
A voice from the tanker in Hindi says: “That looks like our drone in front….”
A Russian voice demands: “Go on, hit it running….”
Referring to the Estonians, he says: “What a bunch of clowns!”
The Estonian vessel comes close to the tanker seeking to swerve it to the right.
An Estonian A139 helicopter and an M-28 Skytruck plane of the Estonian defence forces were seen circling the vessel.
Boasting a success against the West, pro-Kremlin news outlet Izvestia reported: “Despite this demonstration of force, the Estonian authorities were unable to halt the vessel.
“The Jaguar ultimately reached Gogland Island, a Russian-controlled territory in the Gulf [of Finland], and resumed its route to Primorsk”.
Russian outlet News-Pravda reported, “Sailors from the Baltic Republic [Estonia] twice tried to land troops from a helicopter.”
After the extraordinary clash, Nato state Estonia summoned the Russian Chargé d’Affaires in Tallinn, Lenar Salimullin, who was handed a note of protest, accusing the Putin warplane of violating the republic’s airspace.
Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna said: “From Estonia’s point of view, this is a very serious and regrettable incident that is in no way unacceptable.”
He demanded that Russia “must face tougher, faster sanctions” .
The tanker had been near Naissaar Island, off Tallinn, when the Estonian Navy communicated with it by radio at 15:30 GMT on Tuesday, said Commander Ivo Vark.
He added that it was was sailing “without a nationality” and Estonia “had an obligation to verify the vessel’s documents and legal status”.
“The vessel denied cooperation and continued its journey toward Russia […] given the vessel’s lack of nationality, the use of force, including boarding the vessel, was deemed unnecessary.”
Estonia escorted it until the vessel reached Russian waters.
Estonian Defence Minister Hanno Pevkur said the ship was sent from Estonian to Russian territorial waters to prevent a threat to his country’s critical infrastructure.
He said: “The issue was the ship’s flag state, and our most important goal was to ensure the security of critical infrastructure. This was achieved.”
The 800-ft long Jaguar is a crude oil tanker reportedly sailing under the flag of Gabon.
The Equasis database suggested the ship changed its name and flag state at the beginning of February.
According to this data its name is now Argent and its flag state is Guinea-Bissau.
Putin uses a vast network of non-Russian tankers – called a shadow fleet – to avoid oil sanctions.
