Russia's Baltic Restraint is a Shield for Its Shadow Oil Fleet, Estonian Spy Chief Says

Russia has reduced its military provocations in the Baltic Sea. This is to protect its secretive "shadow fleet" of oil tankers, according to Estonia's top intelligence official. Kaupo Rosin, director general of the Estonian Foreign Intelligence Service, stated that Moscow has changed its behavior. It has rerouted drones used in Ukraine and tightened rules for its military aircraft over the Baltic. This follows strong responses from NATO to previous risky incidents. Rosin warns this period of restraint may not last. As the war in Ukraine continues, Russia could resume more aggressive actions in the region. The "shadow fleet" is a group of older tankers used to transport Russian oil while avoiding Western sanctions and price caps. Keeping Baltic Sea routes safe is critical for this operation.