Finland Seizes Russia-Linked Tanker Suspected of Sabotaging Undersea Cables

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Finland has seized a Russia-linked tanker named Eagle S, suspecting it of cutting vital undersea cables. The incident, which occurred on December 25, 2024, involved the disconnection of the Estlink 2 power cable and three internet lines connecting Finland and Estonia. The Eagle S, a Panamax oil tanker registered to the Cook Islands but believed to be part of Russia's shadow fleet, was boarded and taken control of by Finnish authorities. This fleet is known for evading sanctions by using various techniques to obscure ownership and maintain operations.

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The Finnish National Bureau of Investigation views the incident as grave sabotage, with officials stating that the ship's anchor likely caused the damage. The Finnish customs service has seized the vessel's cargo, and the ship has been detained for further investigation. The Estlink 2 outage has raised concerns about power shortages during the winter, with repairs expected to take months.

This incident is part of a broader pattern of undersea infrastructure damage in the Baltic Sea, which has seen multiple power cables, telecom links, and gas pipelines disrupted since 2022. These incidents are increasingly believed to be systematic attacks rather than mere accidents or technical malfunctions. The Finnish and Estonian governments are holding extraordinary meetings to assess the situation, and there are calls for enhanced NATO and EU protection of undersea infrastructure.