Finland Charges Eagle S Captain, Officers Over Baltic Undersea Cable Damage

Finland has charged the captain and two senior officers of the Eagle S oil tanker with aggravated criminal mischief and aggravated interference with telecommunications for severing five undersea cables in the Gulf of Finland in December 2024. The vessel, registered in the Cook Islands and believed to be part of Russia's shadow fleet, allegedly dragged its anchor for approximately 90 kilometers along the seabed, causing significant damage to cables owned by telecom operator Elisa, state-owned Cinia, and the Estlink 2 electricity connection between Finland and Estonia. The damage has resulted in repair costs estimated at over 60 million euros. The defendants deny wrongdoing and challenge Finland's jurisdiction, arguing the incident occurred outside Finnish territorial waters. Finnish authorities have kept the defendants from leaving the country pending legal proceedings, with the case set to be heard in Helsinki District Court. The disruption posed serious risks to Finland's energy supply and telecommunications, although alternative connections have mitigated service impacts.