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Russia Releases Greek Oil Tanker Green Admire After Brief Detention Near Estonia

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Photo of Dariia Mykhailenko
Dariia Mykhailenko
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Russia Releases Greek Oil Tanker Green Admire After Brief Detention Near Estonia
The Green Admire tanker. Illustrative photo. (Source: VesselFinder)

Russian authorities have released the Green Admire oil tanker, which had been detained on May 18 after departing the Estonian port of Sillamäe with a cargo of shale oil, Estonian public broadcaster ERR reported on May 20.

According to the outlet, the vessel exited Russian territorial waters on the evening of May 19 and is now en route to Rotterdam.

The Liberian-flagged tanker is operated by Greece-based Aegean Shipping. Estonia’s Foreign Ministry said the vessel was following a pre-agreed maritime route designed to ensure navigational safety, one that does not strictly follow national borders, when it was intercepted by Russian forces. The ship was later anchored near Russia’s Gogland Island.

Russia reportedly issued several warnings to Green Admire for entering what it labeled a “danger zone,” instructing the vessel to alter course. After the ship’s captain failed to respond, it was detained. Estonian authorities have since announced that all future traffic to and from Sillamäe will be rerouted through Estonia’s own territorial waters to prevent similar incidents.

Estonia’s Transport Department stated that Russia had previously approved the route through its waters due to safety concerns with the alternative channel in Estonian territory.

Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna emphasized the geopolitical implications:

“This incident proves once again that Russia remains unpredictable. That’s why future routes will be changed,” he stated. “The Green Admire was following a navigation path established by mutual agreement between Russia, Estonia, and Finland, specifically designed for maritime safety.”

Estonia has informed its international partners about the incident.

Earlier, The European Union had added 189 vessels from Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet” to its sanctions list as part of a new package targeting the Kremlin’s oil revenues.

A central element of the measures is the blacklisting of nearly 200 tankers linked to Russia, which are used to covertly bypass sanctions and price caps. The goal is to disrupt a critical component of Moscow’s global energy trade and increase pressure on the Kremlin to end its war against Ukraine.

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