The Estlink-2 power cable, which transports electricity from Finland to Estonia via the Baltic Sea, experienced an outage on Wednesday. The incident occurred subsequent to the damage of two data cables and the Nord Stream pipelines, both of which have been classified as acts of sabotage.
Helsinki Police Chief Jari Liukki told reporters at a Thursday press briefing that Finnish police and border guards boarded the Eagle S and took over the command bridge. The cables are believed to have been damaged by the Eagle S's anchor, as indicated by police statements.
The Eagle S, which is registered in the Cook Islands, was identified as a component of Russia's shadow fleet of petroleum tankers by the European Union's executive commission and Finnish customs officials. These aging vessels that have unclear ownership were reportedly acquired by Russia to circumvent Western sanctions during the conflict in Ukraine and are not insured under Western regulations. Due to the vessels' age, Russia's utilization of them has increased environmental concerns regarding potential catastrophes.
Kaja Kallas, the EU's foreign policy chief, said in a statement that the incident was "the latest in a series of suspected attacks on critical infrastructure," explaining that the ship "is part of Russia's shadow fleet, which threatens security and the environment while funding Russia's war budget."
We will propose further measures, including sanctions, to target this fleet," said Kallas, who commended the Finnish authorities "for their swift action in boarding the suspected vessel."
Estonia Prime Minister Kristen Michal said during an emergency news conference that the shadow tankers "are helping Russia to earn funds that will aid Russian hybrid attacks," adding that the country needs "to improve the monitoring and protection of critical infrastructure both on land and on sea."
Repairs to the cables are expected to be completed in seven months.
Estonia's President Alar Karis also weighed in about the incident on X, writing, "Repeated damage to Baltic Sea infrastructure signals a systemic threat, not mere accidents. Estonia will take action to counter this threat, together with Finland and other NATO allies."
In November, two data cables were severed: one that connects Finland and Germany and another that connects Lithuania and Sweden. The defense minister of Germany stated that officials were obligated to regard the incident as "sabotage." However, he did not offer any evidence or specify who might have been responsible. He made the statement during a speech in which he addressed the prospect of hybrid warfare from Russia.
In September 2022, underwater explosions caused damage to the Nord Stream pipelines, which were previously responsible for transporting natural gas from Russia to Germany. The authorities have initiated criminal investigations and have stated that the cause was sabotage.
