featured News Trending

Sweden Detains Captain of Suspected Russian Shadow Fleet Tanker

By 86 0

A court in Sweden has ordered the detention of the captain of a tanker suspected of being part of Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet” used to bypass Western sanctions on oil exports. The unnamed 55-year-old captain was arrested by the Swedish Prosecution Authority and appeared before a court in Ystad on suspicion of using forged documents.

The vessel, Sea Owl One, was intercepted by the Swedish Coast Guard in territorial waters south of Trelleborg. Authorities boarded the 228-metre tanker after suspecting it was sailing under a false Comoros flag. Officials said the ship was travelling from Santos to Primorsk and had previously transported oil between Russia and Brazil.

The tanker is among vessels sanctioned by the European Union and believed to be linked to Moscow’s network of ships with unclear ownership or insurance used to evade sanctions imposed after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Swedish authorities said the captain will remain in custody while prosecutors continue their investigation, marking the second seizure of a suspected shadow fleet vessel in the country within a week.

Pic courtesy: google/ images are subject to copyright

featured News Trending

Sweden Says Russian Drone Jammed Near French Carrier in Malmö

By 110 0

Sweden’s armed forces have confirmed that a drone jammed near the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle in Malmö was Russian. The drone was detected about seven nautical miles from the carrier and was seen taking off from a nearby Russian intelligence-gathering vessel in Swedish territorial waters. The Swedish Navy acted quickly to disrupt the drone using jamming technology, which interferes with its control signals. The Kremlin has dismissed the accusation as “absurd.”

The Charles de Gaulle, visiting Sweden for the first time, is set to participate in NATO exercises across the Baltic and Atlantic regions under the La Fayette 26 mission. Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson described the incident as serious but not unexpected, suggesting it fit a broader pattern of Russian behavior. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot called any confirmed Russian involvement a “ridiculous provocation,” while French military officials emphasized that the incident did not affect the carrier’s operations.

The episode comes amid months of reported drone sightings near military facilities across NATO member states, including Denmark and the Baltic countries. Sweden’s coast guard has also launched a separate investigation into a fuel spill in Malmö’s port, though authorities say it is unrelated to the carrier’s visit. The carrier strike group’s deployment signals France’s strengthened military engagement with northern European allies in response to growing tensions with Moscow.

Pic courtesy: google/ images are subject to copyright

News Trending

Russia blamed for GPS interference affecting flights in Europe

By 682 0

Russia has been increasingly disrupting satellite navigation systems, particularly in regions where its military activity is high, such as the Baltic Sea, the Black Sea, and the eastern Mediterranean. This disruption has affected thousands of civilian flights, with incidents reported by pilots and airlines. Finnair, for instance, had to suspend flights to Tartu, Estonia, due to GPS interference.

While GPS disruption is mainly a nuisance and not an immediate safety threat during flight, it can still pose risks, especially for airports relying solely on GPS navigation like Tartu. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency has noted a significant increase in incidents, with blame squarely placed on Russia by Baltic state officials and online investigators.

The disruption includes jamming GPS signals and spoofing legitimate ones, causing confusion about location. Experts suggest Russia’s motives range from offensive to defensive, testing its ability to immobilize Europe while protecting itself from potential attacks. While Russia has its own navigation system (GLONASS), the interference still poses risks due to society’s heavy reliance on precise GPS signals.

Ultimately, while aircraft may have backup systems, interference with GPS signals disrupts efficiency and safety, requiring a reliance on older, less familiar procedures. There’s concern that if the interference continues, it could lead to more serious consequences.

Picture Courtesy: Google/images are subject to copyright