Putin brings out the big guns to protect his floating treasure

Vladimir Putin has deployed warships to escort Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet” of oil tankers, according to Finnish Defense Minister Antti Häkkänen.

In comments to Finnish broadcaster Yle, Häkkänen said the Russian navy is now accompanying the fleet of tankers, a move he described as unprecedented.

Since its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Moscow has built up a "shadow fleet" of aging and obscurely owned oil tankers, designed to bypass Western sanctions and continue delivering Russian oil to buyers around the world. This fleet mainly operates in the Baltic Sea, particularly through the narrow Gulf of Finland.

“The Russian military presence in the region has always been visible, this is not a new feature. However, what is new is that Russia is protecting its shadow fleet tankers in the narrow passage of the Gulf of Finland,” Häkkänen said.

“Military escort and the presence of armed forces is observed. This is a completely new thing,” he added.

(QG - Source: Newsweek — Picture : © Unsplash)