Finns Detain Tanker In Undersea Cable Sabotage Investigation

Finnish forces detained the Eagle S, a tanker suspected of disabling the Estlink-2 power cable, which connects Finland and Estonia. Registered in the Cook Islands, the ship was traveling from Russia to Egypt when it drew suspicion.

AIS data revealed the Eagle S performing suspicious maneuvers over the cable shortly before it was damaged. Investigators found that the vessel was missing one of its anchors, a key piece of evidence linking it to the sabotage.

This incident is part of a troubling pattern in the Baltic region. Over the past year, Chinese ships have been implicated in damaging pipelines and cables, with investigations often hindered by diplomatic and procedural delays.

The Eagle S is thought to belong to Russia’s shadow fleet, a network used to evade sanctions and smuggle oil. Finnish authorities moved quickly to board the tanker, detain the crew, and secure the vessel for investigation.

The Estlink-2 cable is a critical part of Northern Europe’s energy infrastructure, making its damage a significant security concern. Acts of sabotage on such systems are increasingly seen as hybrid warfare threats.

Finnish investigators are working to uncover the full extent of the Eagle S’s involvement in this and other potential incidents in the Baltic.

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