In a significant development, Finland has seized the Cook Islands-registered vessel Eagle S in connection with the rupturing of the Estlink 2 power transmission cable. The severed cable, a critical infrastructure link between Finland and Estonia, prompted an urgent investigation by Finnish authorities earlier this week.
The ship is thought to be part of Russia‘s “shadow fleet,” a group of vessels allegedly used to transport Russian oil while evading Western sanctions imposed due to the war in Ukraine. Finnish police have classified the incident as “aggravated criminal mischief” but have not yet ruled out sabotage.
The Estlink 2 cable, which has been operational since 2014, plays a vital role in ensuring energy stability between the two nations. Prime Minister Petteri Orpo has confirmed that authorities are actively investigating the matter over the holiday period, with all possibilities—ranging from technical failure to deliberate damage—still on the table.
European officials sounded the alarm
The European Commission condemned the incident, calling it a suspected attack on critical infrastructure, with officials pointing out that this was part of a series of incidents involving cable sabotage and emphasizing the potential threats posed by an alleged Russian shadow fleet. The Commission announced plans to enhance undersea cable protection through improved detection, information sharing, and repair initiatives.
Finnish President Alexander Stubb also stressed the urgency of mitigating risks associated with the shadow fleet. Estonia’s Prime Minister Kristen Michal echoed these concerns, urging NATO and the EU to increase cooperation on securing undersea cables against possible sabotage.
A Troubling Trend in the Baltic
This incident follows a pattern of undersea cable disruptions in the Baltic region. Last month, a Chinese ship, Yi Peng 3, was implicated in the severing of cables linking Sweden, Lithuania, Germany, and Finland. Although investigations are ongoing, these events have raised alarms over potential sabotage.
The Finnish investigation into the Eagle S also includes its suspected involvement in severing three data cables in the Gulf of Finland last month. These recurring incidents underscore growing vulnerabilities in European waters and the need for coordinated security measures.
With tensions high and critical infrastructure under threat, European nations are calling for immediate action to safeguard these systems and counter the shadow fleet’s activities.
