Finland Seizes Russian Oil Tanker in Cable Damage Investigation

Finnish authorities have detained the vessel Eagle S, linked to Russia's shadow fleet, as they investigate its possible involvement in the severing of the Estlink 2 undersea cable connecting Finland and Estonia. The ship's anchor is suspected to have damaged the cable, which occurred on December 25, 2024, coinciding with the slowdown of the vessel reported by monitoring services. This incident is part of a series of disruptions to critical infrastructure in the Baltic Sea, raising suspicions of sabotage amid ongoing geopolitical tensions related to the war in Ukraine. The EU's foreign policy chief has condemned the event and called for additional sanctions targeting the shadow fleet, which operates under opaque ownership to evade Western sanctions. Additionally, the incident has prompted discussions between Estonian and Latvian leaders regarding regional security threats posed by Russian maritime activities. As investigations continue, concerns about the vulnerability of undersea infrastructure and the potential for further sabotage remain high.