An alarming discovery in the Baltic Sea has amplified fears of sabotage targeting critical infrastructure. Finnish investigators have linked the damage to a vital power cable and several data cables to a suspicious anchor drag mark on the seabed, reportedly caused by a Russia-linked vessel. This development casts a spotlight on Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet,” a network of aging, sanction-evading fuel tankers that operate with minimal regulatory oversight.
On December 25, the Estlink-2 power cable, a critical energy conduit connecting Finland and Estonia, suffered a rupture. While the disruption had minimal immediate effects on services, it followed earlier sabotage incidents involving two data cables and the Nord Stream gas pipelines. Finnish authorities suspect these attacks are part of a broader pattern of deliberate actions targeting European infrastructure.
Chief investigator Sami Paila described the discovery of an anchor drag mark stretching for nearly 100 kilometers along the seabed. “Our current understanding is that the drag mark in question is that of the anchor of the [seized] Eagle S vessel,” Paila told Finnish national broadcaster Yle. Underwater research confirmed the connection, though authorities remain focused on determining whether the damage was intentional.
The Eagle S, flagged in the Cook Islands, has been identified as part of Russia’s shadow fleet. Operating without Western-regulated insurance and plagued by environmental risks due to their age, these vessels have become a significant concern amid heightened tensions following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Finnish officials detained the Eagle S near Porvoo, where it is now under investigation for aggravated interference with telecommunications, vandalism, and regulatory offenses.
Adding to the strain, another tanker, the M/T Jazz, drifted in the Gulf of Finland after engine failure. While this Panama-registered vessel posed no immediate threat, Finnish authorities acted swiftly to secure it, underscoring the heightened vigilance in the region.
NATO, which Finland joined in 2023, is stepping up patrols in the Baltic Sea. NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte emphasized the importance of protecting critical infrastructure in light of these incidents.
Similarly, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas linked the Baltic sabotage attempts to Russia’s broader aggression. “Sabotage in Europe has increased,” Kallas said, stressing that such actions are “part of a pattern of deliberate and coordinated efforts to damage our digital and energy infrastructure.”
