Russia’s ‘Shadow Fleet’ Under Scrutiny After Cable Sabotage In Baltic

The tanker Eagle S, linked to Russia’s shadow oil smuggling operations, was seized by Finnish commandos Thursday on suspicion of damaging the Estlink-2 power cable. The undersea cable, connecting Finland and Estonia, is a key component of Northern Europe’s energy grid.

AIS data showed the Eagle S performing suspicious movements near the cable before it was disabled. Investigators also noted that one of the ship’s anchors was missing, pointing to possible involvement in the sabotage. The vessel was traveling from St. Petersburg to Port Said when it was intercepted by Finnish authorities.

This is the latest in a series of incidents targeting Baltic undersea infrastructure. Over the past year, Chinese vessels were implicated in damaging gas pipelines and telecom cables in the region, though consequences for those ships have been minimal. In contrast, Finnish authorities acted swiftly by boarding the Eagle S and detaining its crew for questioning.

The sabotage underscores the growing threat of hybrid warfare targeting NATO and EU member states. Russia and China have been linked to these incidents, raising concerns about coordinated efforts to destabilize Europe’s telecom and energy networks.

The Eagle S is part of Russia’s “shadow fleet,” used to smuggle oil while evading sanctions. This clandestine network has drawn attention for its role in both economic and geopolitical tensions.

Protecting undersea infrastructure has become a pressing issue for NATO, as repeated sabotage incidents threaten the stability of the region’s critical systems.

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