Russian-Linked Tanker Seized Over Baltic Power Cable Sabotage

Finnish authorities detained the Eagle S, a tanker suspected of damaging the Estlink-2 power cable, which connects Finland and Estonia. The vessel, registered in the Cook Islands, was en route from Russia to Egypt when it became the focus of an investigation into undersea cable sabotage.

AIS tracking data showed the Eagle S making erratic maneuvers over the Estlink-2 cable at the time of the incident. Further suspicion arose when officials discovered one of the ship’s anchors was missing. Finnish forces boarded the tanker Thursday and detained the crew for questioning.

The sabotage of undersea infrastructure is not new in the Baltic region. In October 2023, a Chinese ship was blamed for dragging an anchor across a gas pipeline and two telecom cables connecting Finland and Estonia. A year later, Chinese vessels were suspected of damaging other vital cables linking Germany, Finland, Lithuania, and Sweden.

Finnish officials acted decisively compared to previous incidents involving Chinese ships, which faced limited consequences despite substantial evidence. By boarding the Eagle S, Finland signaled a stronger approach to protecting its critical infrastructure.

The Eagle S is believed to belong to Russia’s “shadow fleet,” which smuggles oil to avoid sanctions. Its activities, combined with similar actions by Chinese vessels, have raised alarms about coordinated efforts to disrupt the Baltic’s telecom and energy grids.

These incidents highlight the vulnerability of Europe’s undersea infrastructure and the need for stronger NATO strategies to address hybrid warfare tactics.

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