Finnish Authorities Board Tanker Suspected Of Baltic Infrastructure Sabotage

The Eagle S, a tanker allegedly tied to Russia’s shadow fleet, was seized by Finnish commandos after being linked to the damage of the Estlink-2 power cable. The cable connects Finland and Estonia, playing a crucial role in the region’s energy supply.

AIS data identified the Eagle S making unusual maneuvers near the cable before it was disabled. Further inspections revealed that one of the ship’s anchors was missing, pointing to possible deliberate interference.

This is the fourth major incident involving sabotage of Baltic undersea infrastructure. Previous cases implicated Chinese ships in damaging gas pipelines and telecom cables, but investigations have been slow and inconclusive.

Finnish authorities acted decisively, boarding the Eagle S and detaining its crew for questioning. The ship’s suspected role in smuggling oil under Russia’s shadow fleet has added a geopolitical dimension to the investigation.

The repeated sabotage of undersea cables highlights the growing threat of hybrid warfare, targeting critical infrastructure in NATO and EU nations. The Baltic’s energy and communication networks are particularly vulnerable to such attacks.

The investigation into the Eagle S’s activities is ongoing, with Finnish police seeking to establish connections to earlier incidents in the region.