Finnish Authorities Investigate Suspected Sabotage of Baltic Sea Cables by Russia-Linked Tanker

The Eagle S tanker, part of Russia's 'shadow fleet,' is under scrutiny for damage to undersea power and data cables connecting Finland and Estonia.

The Eagle S, a tanker flagged in the Cook Islands and linked to Russia's 'shadow fleet,' was seized by Finnish authorities after undersea cables were found damaged on December 25.
Investigators discovered an anchor drag mark stretching nearly 100 kilometers on the Baltic seabed, believed to be caused by the Eagle S.
The damaged Estlink 2 power cable, which connects Finland and Estonia, and multiple data cables could take months to repair, potentially raising electricity costs in Estonia.
The European Union and NATO officials have called for heightened security measures in the Baltic Sea and additional sanctions on Russia's shadow fleet, which operates aging, uninsured vessels to evade sanctions.
This incident follows a series of similar acts targeting critical infrastructure in the Baltic, raising concerns about deliberate sabotage tied to Russia's hybrid warfare tactics.