Finnish Forces Seize Russian-Linked Tanker Over Cable Sabotage
Finnish authorities detained the Eagle S, a tanker suspected of damaging the Estlink-2 power cable between Finland and Estonia. Registered in the Cook Islands, the vessel was traveling from St. Petersburg to Port Said when investigators flagged it for suspicious activity.
AIS data revealed the Eagle S making erratic maneuvers near the undersea cable. Officials later discovered one of the ship’s anchors was missing, raising further suspicion. Finnish commandos boarded the tanker Thursday and took the crew in for questioning.
The incident is the latest in a string of attacks on Baltic infrastructure. In October 2023, a Chinese ship allegedly damaged gas and telecom lines between Finland and Estonia. Similar incidents in 2024 saw Chinese vessels implicated in harming cables connecting Germany, Finland, and Lithuania.
Unlike previous cases, Finnish authorities acted swiftly. The Eagle S is believed to be part of Russia’s shadow fleet, a network used to smuggle oil while bypassing sanctions. Its involvement in the sabotage highlights growing concerns about hybrid warfare targeting NATO and EU nations.
The Baltic’s undersea cables are critical to Europe’s energy and communication systems. Acts of sabotage against these networks pose a significant threat to regional stability.
The Eagle S is currently under investigation, with Finnish police leading efforts to determine the full extent of its role in the incident.
