Seizure of Russia-Linked Ship Suspected of Damaging Infrastructure in the Baltic Sea

Police and news media in Finland report that authorities in the country have seized a ship linked to Russia on suspicion of damaging power and communication cables in the Baltic Sea. An investigation into this incident, which is the latest in a series of events related to critical maritime infrastructure in Europe, is underway. Jari Liukko, the head of Helsinki police, stated at a press conference that the police and the Finnish Border Guard boarded the ship 'Eagle S' at midnight on Thursday. The vessel was seized in Finland's exclusive economic zone and transferred to the territorial waters of the country. Finnish customs officials say that this ship, which sails under the Cook Islands flag, is suspected of being associated with the shadow fleet of Russian oil tankers. These old vessels, with unclear and ambiguous ownership, operate without insurance from reputable companies to evade Western sanctions against Russia due to its military invasion of Ukraine. It is suspected that the anchor of the 'Eagle S' may have damaged underwater cables in the Baltic. One of these cables, which transmits electricity from Finland to Estonia, was cut on Wednesday afternoon. This incident follows damage to two communication cables and the Nord Stream gas pipeline, which European officials believe was sabotage. Kaja Kallas, the Prime Minister of Estonia, stated on the social media platform 'X' that her government held a meeting on this issue on Thursday. Two communication cables, one between Finland and Germany and another between Lithuania and Sweden, were cut last month. The German Defense Minister, without providing specific evidence, said that officials should consider this incident as 'sabotage.' He did not specify who or what group might be responsible for this 'incident.' The Nord Stream pipelines, which once transported natural gas from Russia to Germany, were damaged two years ago due to underwater explosions. Authorities have conducted investigations into that incident, considering it 'sabotage.' Source: Associated Press. Investigations into the cutting of fiber optic cables in the Baltic Sea; China is under suspicion. The U.S. supports Finland and Estonia in investigating damage to the gas pipeline in the Baltic Sea.