Finnish authorities have detained several crew members of the Russia-linked oil tanker Eagle S.
The move on January 2 came after the vessel was suspected of damaging critical submarine infrastructure in the Baltic Sea. The incident has raised alarm about the vulnerability of such cables amid growing concerns over sabotage in the region.
The Eagle S, which departed from the Russian port of Ust-Luga on Christmas Day, was believed to have intentionally dragged its anchor for several kilometres, severing the Estlink-2 power cable and four telecommunications cables, causing significant disruption.
Detective Chief Inspector Elina Katajamäki of the Finnish National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) stated the move “ensures the criminal investigation is not compromised and the parties can be reached”.
Further investigations may lead to additional suspects being restricted, the NBI said.
Shortly after the cables were damaged, Finnish authorities dispatched armed units to board the Eagle S via helicopter. The crew offered no resistance and the ship was seized in the coastal Finnish city of Porvoo for further investigation.
The NBI confiscated navigational devices and other equipment, which it said were being analysed for evidence.
Investigators were working to construct a comprehensive timeline of events aboard the vessel and underwater operations have reportedly confirmed anchor drag marks stretching for dozens of kilometres along the seabed, consistent with the cables’ locations.
The Eagle S, sailing under a Cook Islands flag, has been identified by Finnish and European Union authorities as part of a Russian tanker fleet operating in defiance of international sanctions imposed following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Lloyd’s List, a shipping journal, reported that the vessel had previously carried what it termed “abnormal equipment” suspected of monitoring NATO naval and aircraft communications.
The latest incident has followed a pattern of hybrid threats and sabotage targeting critical infrastructure in the Baltic Sea.
In November 2022, Sweden, Germany and Lithuania launched investigations into another case involving damaged submarine cables, allegedly by a Chinese vessel.
Such incidents have led to the establishment of international advisory bodies designed to enhance the protection of these vital links.
The damage to the Estlink-2 cable, which transmits electricity between Finland and Estonia, has been assessed as minimal, with no major disruptions to power supply.
Finnish officials remain concerned about the economic and strategic implications of such attacks, though.
“This highlights the vulnerability of our energy infrastructure and underscores the need for coordinated security measures,” said Katajamäki.
The incident has also intensified NATO’s focus on the Baltic Sea. Its Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg announced the deployment of additional maritime patrols, long-range radars, drones and mine-clearing fleets to the region.
Finland, a NATO member since 2023, shares a 1,340km border with Russia and has abandoned decades of neutrality in response to the war in Ukraine.
The Eagle S investigation may take weeks or months to complete, the NBI said. Finnish authorities were exploring legal and diplomatic avenues, with potential charges of aggravated criminal mischief and interference in communications a consideration.
Finland aims to ban Russians from buying property in the Nordic country, a minister with the Helsinki government has said. https://t.co/kjJUagnlf9
— Brussels Signal (@brusselssignal) September 3, 2024
