Recent findings by Finnish investigators have strengthened suspicions of Russian involvement in damaging critical undersea infrastructure in the Baltic Sea. Officials discovered an extensive anchor drag mark on the seabed, linked to a vessel from Russia's "shadow fleet" - a collection of aging tankers operating outside Western regulations.
The investigation centers on damage to the Estlink-2 power cable connecting Finland and Estonia, which failed on December 25th. Finnish police chief investigator Sami Paila confirmed the discovery of an anchor trail stretching up to 100 kilometers, attributing it to the vessel "Eagle S."
The Eagle S, flagged in the Cook Islands but identified as part of Russia's shadow fleet, has been seized and is currently anchored near the port of Porvoo. Authorities are investigating potential criminal charges including aggravated interference with telecommunications and vandalism.
This incident follows a pattern of infrastructure damage in the region, including two data cables and the Nord Stream gas pipelines, which were previously classified as acts of sabotage. NATO has responded by increasing patrols in the Baltic Sea area.
Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas emphasized that these events are not isolated incidents but represent "part of a pattern of deliberate and coordinated actions to damage our digital and energy infrastructure." The European Union plans to implement stronger measures against vessels in Russia's shadow fleet.
The timing is particularly notable as Finland, which shares an extensive border with Russia, recently joined NATO in 2023, departing from its long-standing neutrality policy amid growing regional tensions.
In a related development, another tanker headed for Russia, the M/T Jazz, has reported engine failure in the Gulf of Finland, prompting Finnish authorities to deploy emergency response vessels to prevent potential infrastructure damage.
These events highlight escalating concerns about maritime security and infrastructure protection in the Baltic region, as evidence mounts of coordinated efforts to disrupt critical communications and energy networks.