The Finnish transport and communications agency announced the inspection of the oil tanker on Thursday Eagle Ssuspected of being part of the Russian “ghost fleet” and having damaged an underwater cable in the Baltic Sea.
“On January 2, 2025, the Finnish agency (…) Traficom will initiate an inspection of the Eagle S“, announced in a statement the director of the organization, Sanna Sonninen.
According to Sonninen, this inspection is in addition to the investigation carried out by the Finnish police.
He Eagle Swith flag of Cook Islandses suspected of having damaged the underwater electrical cable EstLink 2that one has Finland y Estoniaon Christmas Day in the Baltic Sea.
According to Sami Pailainspector from Finnish National Research Office (KRP)the trace detected on the seabed ends at the point where a ship would have raised its anchor.
“From that point to the east there are several tens of kilometers, if not a hundred kilometers, of drag marks“Paila explained to YLE. This preliminary analysis has allowed investigators to formulate an initial theory about what happened, pointing to the oil tanker Eagle S as the possible person responsible.
helicopters Border Guard and of the Finnish Armed Forces have escorted the Eagle Sand its crew is being questioned as part of the investigation. However, so far the nationality of the crew members has not been confirmed, a fact that could be crucial to clarify the possible motives behind the incident.
The ship was boarded and escorted to the port of Kilpilahti40km east of Helsinki, where investigators are inspecting it and questioning its 20 crew.
The Eagle S is suspected of belonging to the Russian “ghost fleet,” a term that refers to ships carrying Russian crude oil and petroleum products subject to embargo.
Several similar incidents have occurred in the Baltic since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which began in February 2022.
Experts and politicians affirm that these actions against energy and communications infrastructure are part of the “hybrid war” between Russia and Western countries in this extensive maritime space where several NATO countries converge.
Two telecommunications cables were cut on November 17 and 18 in Swedish territorial waters, and Swedish authorities suspect a Chinese-flagged bulk carrier that was in the area at the time.
The incidents that affected Finland and Estonia last week have generated concern among NATO member countrieswho have expressed their solidarity with both nations.
Although the organization has not detailed the exact scope of the military deployment, it has indicated that other actions are being evaluated to confront the threats to underwater infrastructure.
Among the measures considered, NATO highlighted the role of Maritime Center for Critical Underwater Infrastructure Security (CUI), inaugurated last May in London. This center aims to map underwater infrastructures in waters controlled by the Alliance and analyze their possible vulnerabilities. According to the organization, this initiative seeks prevent and respond more effectively to potential sabotage.
(With information from AFP)
