FRANKFURT, Germany — Finnish authorities have apprehended a vessel associated with Russia as they probe its possible involvement in damaging a power cable and various data cables in the Baltic Sea, according to police reports. This incident is the latest in a series of disruptions to critical regional infrastructure.
Early Thursday, Finnish police and border officials boarded the ship named Eagle S and took control of its command center, as stated by Helsinki Police Chief Jari Liukku during a press briefing. The vessel is currently being held in Finnish waters.
Although the Eagle S is registered in the Cook Islands, Finnish customs authorities and representatives from the European Union have highlighted that it is part of Russia’s clandestine fleet of fuel tankers. These ships are typically aged vessels with ambiguous ownership that are used to circumvent Western sanctions amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and are operating without insurance regulated by Western nations. Environmentalists have raised alarms about the potential risks associated with these older vessels, particularly regarding accidents given their dubious insurance coverage.
Reports from Yle television, citing police sources, suggest that the Eagle S’s anchor may have caused damage to the power cable.
EU’s foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, acknowledged that this incident is “the latest in a series of suspected attacks on critical infrastructure” and praised Finnish authorities for their promptness in addressing the situation concerning the suspected vessel. Kallas, a former Prime Minister of Estonia, noted, “This ship is part of Russia’s shadow fleet, posing risks to security and the environment while financially supporting Russia’s military endeavors.” She mentioned plans for additional measures, which may include sanctions targeting this fleet.
The Estlink-2 power cable, which facilitates electricity transfer from Finland to Estonia across the Baltic, experienced issues on Wednesday, further complicating the situation. This event follows recent damages to two data cables and the Nord Stream gas pipelines, both of which were labeled as acts of sabotage.
Following the incident, the Estonian government convened for an emergency meeting. Prime Minister Kristen Michal emphasized that these shadow tankers are contributing to Russia’s revenue, which may fund hybrid warfare initiatives. He advocated for enhanced monitoring and protection of vital infrastructure, both on land and at sea, and estimated that cable repairs might take up to seven months.
“Frequent damage to infrastructure in the Baltic Sea indicates a systematic threat rather than isolated incidents,” remarked Estonia’s President Alar Karis on X, urging collaborative efforts with Finland and other NATO allies to counteract this danger.
In November, two data cables connecting Finland with Germany and Lithuania with Sweden were also severed. Germany’s defense minister implied that these incidents should be treated as potential sabotage, though concrete evidence or the identities of the culprits were not disclosed. His comments occurred amidst discussions about hybrid warfare risks presented by Russia.
Separately, the Nord Stream pipelines, which previously transported natural gas from Russia to Germany, were reportedly compromised by underwater explosions back in September 2022. Investigations into these sabotage claims are ongoing.
According to Estonian network operator Elering, there is sufficient spare capacity to meet energy requirements on the Estonian side, as reported by public broadcaster ERR.