Finland Charges Russian-Linked Tanker Crew Over Baltic Sea Cable Sabotage

Finnish authorities have charged the captain and two senior officers of the Cook Islands-registered oil tanker Eagle S with aggravated criminal mischief and aggravated interference with communications for damaging five undersea cables in the Gulf of Finland on December 25, 2024. The cables, including the Estlink-2 power cable and four telecommunications lines connecting Finland and Estonia, suffered extensive damage caused by the tanker dragging its anchor for about 90 kilometers. Finnish prosecutors estimate the repair costs at over 60 million euros ($70 million) and assert that the sabotage posed a serious risk to energy supply and telecommunications in Finland. The Eagle S is believed to be part of Russia's shadow fleet, a group of aging tankers used to evade Western sanctions amid the war in Ukraine. The defendants deny the charges and contest Finland's jurisdiction, arguing the damage occurred outside Finnish territorial waters. This incident is viewed as part of a series of hybrid war tactics linked to Moscow following its 2022 invasion of Ukraine, targeting critical infrastructure in Europe.