Russia has accused NATO of aggressive actions that impede freedom of navigation after Estonia tried unsuccessfully to detain a tanker in the Baltic Sea, Reuters reported, quoted by BTA.
Last Thursday, Estonia said that Moscow had briefly sent a fighter jet into NATO airspace over the Baltic Sea during an attempt to stop an oil tanker sailing towards Russia, believed to be part of the "shadow fleet" that helps Moscow evade Western sanctions.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said today at a regular press conference that Moscow was closely monitoring events in the Baltic Sea and would respond to what she called illegal actions by NATO ships. NATO if they pose risks.
Earlier today, Moscow said it had released a Greek-owned oil tanker that was seized in Russian waters on Sunday after leaving an Estonian port. The vessel's detention has raised concerns about a potential escalation in the busy Baltic Sea waterway after Estonia took separate actions in recent days to stop tankers as part of Western sanctions against Russia.