Swedish minister reports more aggressive Russian Baltic Fleet behaviour

Sweden’s Defence Minister Pål Jonson says Russian naval forces in the Baltic Sea have shown increasingly aggressive behaviour, as Swedish authorities step up action against the Russian “shadow fleet.”

An SVT investigation found that Russian oil worth about SEK 3 trillion has been shipped through the Baltic Sea since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, exceeding half of Russia’s military spending over the same period.

“Russia’s war against Ukraine is largely funded by its oil and gas economy,” Jonson told SVT. “That is why it is so important that more countries than just Sweden act against the shadow fleet.”

SVT identified roughly 500 tankers believed to be part of the shadow fleet, operating in the Baltic with obscured ownership, unclear flags, and unverifiable insurance.

In recent months, the Swedish Coast Guard and police have boarded several vessels suspected of belonging to the shadow fleet. Jonson said the operations are part of Sweden’s strategy toward Russia and have already altered shipping patterns, with more shadow fleet vessels now routing around Bornholm.

Peter Hultqvist, chair of the Defence Committee, warned that the shadow fleet will adapt to Western measures and called for sustained, long-term efforts by Swedish and other European authorities.