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| Image: Police of Finland |
Authorities in Finland have identified eight crew members from the oil tanker Eagle S as suspects in a high-profile investigation into damaged submarine cables in the Baltic Sea. The tanker, linked to a Russian "shadow fleet" allegedly circumventing sanctions, is suspected of playing a role in severing critical telecommunications and power connections between Finland, Germany, and Estonia.
The Finnish Coast Guard escorted the Eagle S into national waters following reports that its anchor might have been used to disrupt undersea cables, including the vital Estlink 2 power line, which connects Estonia to the European electricity grid. The ship is currently stationed at the Kilpilahti oil terminal near Helsinki, with its 24-member crew—primarily comprising Georgian and Indian nationals—under close scrutiny.
Initially, seven crew members were identified as persons of interest in the investigation, subjected to a travel ban preventing them from leaving the vessel. This number has since risen to eight, according to Finnish authorities. While the suspects are not under formal arrest, their movements are restricted as the investigation continues.
The Eagle S, registered in the Cook Islands and operated by UAE-based Caravella LLC-FZ, set sail from the Russian port of Ust-Luga on December 25. During its voyage, it allegedly slowed its passage through the Baltic Sea, leading to the breakage of undersea cables. Estonia, which has been working to detach itself from the Russian power grid, stated that the incident would not derail plans to integrate fully with the European network this year.
This suspected act of sabotage is the latest in a series of incidents in the Baltic Sea, raising concerns about regional security as tensions between NATO allies and Russia remain high. In a similar case in November, the Chinese-flagged bulk carrier Yi Peng 3 was implicated in damaging communication cables connecting Nordic countries. The vessel eventually left the Baltic in late December after being under investigation for nearly a month.
As legal proceedings unfold, the Helsinki District Court is reviewing a request from Caravella’s legal team to lift the seizure of the Eagle S. Meanwhile, Finland's transmission operator, Fingrid, has supported retaining custody of the tanker, emphasizing the importance of a thorough investigation into the disruption of critical infrastructure.
This incident underscores the ongoing geopolitical pressures in the Baltic region, with cable sabotage emerging as a tactic to challenge NATO's unity and its continued support for Ukraine amid the ongoing conflict with Russia.
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