The Finnish authorities seized an oil tanker on Thursday amid suspicions of its involvement in cutting vital undersea cables, suggesting that the ship might be part of Russia’s "shadow fleet" designed to evade Western sanctions.
The Finnish police reported that they had boarded the tanker, Eagle S, in Finnish waters. The vessel, registered in the Cook Islands, was en route from St. Petersburg, Russia, to Port Said, Egypt, at the time of detention.
The investigation focuses on whether the Eagle S was connected to recent acts of sabotage on undersea infrastructure, including the cutting of the Estlink 2 submarine cable, which links Finland and Estonia. Finnish authorities also noted that four other data-carrying cables had been damaged, labeling the incidents as “aggravated vandalism.”
Officials indicated that the tanker might belong to Russia’s shadow fleet, which has been created to bypass Western-imposed price caps on Russian oil transportation following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
To avoid restrictions, Russia has invested heavily in a fleet of unmarked tankers sailing under various national flags, primarily transporting oil to nations like India and China that are not subject to the price cap.
The Finnish customs agency's head, Sami Rakshit, remarked that it is assumed the vessel is part of the shadow fleet, although no further details were provided.
Finland's Prime Minister, Petteri Orpo, noted that while there is no direct evidence linking the Eagle S to Russia, the incident highlights the vulnerability of Baltic nations to potential Russian interference. He emphasized the importance of finding effective measures to counter the shadow fleet, which he claimed funds Russia's military actions in Ukraine.
After its seizure, the Eagle S was anchored in Finnish waters while authorities investigated, collaborating with Estonian officials.
The investigation occurs amidst a series of cable cuts over the past months, stirring concerns about a covert campaign targeting NATO countries that support Ukraine. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte expressed solidarity with allied nations and condemned attacks on critical infrastructure.
Previously, undersea explosions had damaged the Nord Stream gas pipelines, with Western intelligence agencies attributing blame to pro-Ukraine forces, although the orchestrators remained unidentified.
In addition, two fiber-optic cables were severed last month near Finland and Germany, classified as sabotage by Germany’s defense minister. Reports indicate that Russian ships have been present in critical areas of the Baltic and North Seas, with many operating under different flags.
As investigators look into the situation, they are examining whether the crew of the Eagle S intentionally damaged the cables using the ship's anchor. Finnish leaders have discussed these incidents with various officials, including those from NATO and the European Commission.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen praised Finland's prompt response to the incident and emphasized the need for enhanced protection of European critical infrastructure.
Estona's Prime Minister, Kristen Michal, confirmed that his government was coordinating with Finland to address the cable cuts.
Although the damage to the Estlink 2 cable had limited immediate impact on public services, it did disrupt communication links between Finland and Germany, with repairs expected to take several weeks.