Russia has started providing naval escorts for its 'shadow fleet' ships in Baltic Sea, Finnish defense minister says
Russia has begun sending military ships to escort tankers from its "shadow fleet" in the Gulf of Finland, Finnish Defense Minister Antti Häkkänen said in a new interview with the news agency Yle, calling the move unprecedented.
“There has always been a Russian military presence in the region… But what’s new in the current situation is that Russia is now escorting commercial tankers from its shadow fleet through the narrow waters of the Gulf of Finland. This involves warships and armed forces,” Häkkänen said.
The Finnish Navy has also confirmed an increase in military traffic in the area. While Häkkänen said he does not currently see a direct threat to Finland, he added, “The fact remains that Russia is building up its military capabilities and is an aggressive and dangerous neighbor for all of Europe.”
On May 23, Finland’s Defense Ministry reported that two Russian military aircraft had violated the country’s airspace near the coast of Porvoo. The Finnish Foreign Ministry summoned the Russian ambassador and demanded an explanation. The Gulf of Finland Border Guard has launched an investigation into the incident.
