Western nations have suspected for a while that Russia might be cutting vital undersea cables, but they didn’t have much solid evidence. Now, Finland has uncovered something that might change that.
Finnish officials have found miles of tracks on the Baltic Sea floor that suggest a ship linked to Russia could be behind the damage to important data and power cables. According to Sami Paila, a detective chief inspector with Finland’s National Bureau of Investigation, the seabed shows “dragging marks” left by an anchor from an old tanker. These tracks stretch for dozens of kilometers near the cables, making the situation hard to dismiss as a coincidence.
This isn’t just a local issue—it’s sparked international concern. Germany’s foreign minister, Annalena Baerbock, called it a wake-up call, urging Europe to take stronger action against what’s being called Russia’s “shadow fleet.” This fleet, made up of ships registered under complicated ownership arrangements, is believed to carry fuel and other goods while avoiding international sanctions on Russia.
The ship in question, the Eagle S, was carrying 35,000 tons of gasoline loaded at Russian ports and was on its way to Egypt when the Finnish coast guard intercepted it. Officials believe the Eagle S is part of this shadow fleet. The ship’s anchor is suspected to have caused damage to the Estlink 2 cable, one of two major power cables connecting Finland and Estonia, as well as several internet cables. Finnish telecommunications company Cinia reported disruptions in internet services between Rostock, Germany, and Helsinki, Finland. Repairs could take weeks, and some cables might not be fully operational until August.
This isn’t the first time cables in the Baltic region have been damaged. Just last month, cables between Germany and Finland, as well as Sweden and Estonia, were damaged. At that time, a Chinese vessel was seen in the area, raising further questions about security in the region.
Estonia is now stepping up its defense of the remaining undamaged Estlink 1 cable. Estonia’s defense minister, Hanno Pevkur, announced that the country’s navy would patrol near the cable to protect it and secure the vital energy link with Finland.
This marks the first time one of Russia’s shadow fleet ships has been openly linked to suspected undersea sabotage. Kaja Kallas, a senior foreign affairs official in the European Union, emphasized the seriousness of the situation, stating that this fleet not only threatens security and the environment but also helps fund Russia’s war efforts. Kallas has called for stronger sanctions and measures to target these ships.
Russia, for its part, has consistently denied involvement in damaging undersea cables. As of now, the Russian embassy in the UK has not commented on the latest developments. Meanwhile, Finland and its neighbors are taking no chances, boosting their defenses and keeping a close eye on the waters of the Baltic Sea.
