Maria Zakharova, spokeswoman for the Russian Foreign Ministry, said that Estonians' adoption of legal changes allowing their navy to use force on foreign vessels is a provocative act that puts shipping and security at risk in the Baltic Sea.

Zakharova stated that Russia will react proportionately in the event of an attack on its vessels.

Estonian authorities seized last week the Kiwala. The ship has been subject to EU sanctions since February and is part of Russia's "shadow fleet", which Western countries refer to as ships that Moscow uses in order circumvent international sanctions. The ships are not insured or regulated by the usual Western insurance providers. (Reporting and writing by Felix Light; Dmitry Antonov)

(source: Reuters)