Russian shadow fleet tanker suspected in power cable sabotage
A tanker from the "Russian shadow fleet," sailing under the Cook Islands flag, is suspected of damaging the EstLink 2 underwater power cable. Estonian telecommunications operators reported on Thursday that data transmission on four submarine cables was disrupted.
On Wednesday, the EstLink 2 power cable, which lies on the bottom of the Baltic Sea and connects Finland with Estonia, was severed. Finnish authorities suspect the tanker Eagle S, part of the so-called Russian shadow fleet, is responsible. Finnish officials boarded the ship and found that the anchors were not properly there.
Estonian telecommunications operators reported disruptions in data transmission between Estonia and Finland on Thursday. Four submarine cables passing through the Gulf of Finland were involved in the malfunctions. According to the European Commission, there is currently no threat to the security of the electricity supply in the region.
Brussels: the vessel belongs to the shadow fleet
The European Commission confirmed on Thursday that the tanker suspected of damaging the cable belongs to the so-called Russian shadow fleet. In a statement, they noted that "the incident with the submarine cables in the Baltic Sea is the latest in a series of potential attacks on critical infrastructure." "We commend the Finnish authorities for their swift action in boarding the suspect ship. We are cooperating with the Finnish authorities in the ongoing investigation," the Commission emphasized.
Europe has long been monitoring ships belonging to the so-called shadow fleet. They pose a threat to security and the environment while financing Russia's war budget.
We will propose further measures, including sanctions, to strike at this fleet, announced the European Commission on Thursday.
The shadow fleet consists of old tankers transporting Russian oil that sail in Baltic waters. As previously reported by money.pl, they are becoming a more serious problem in the Baltic. Registered in many countries, the Kremlin uses these cheap tankers to transport Russian crude oil. These vessels not only help Putin circumvent sanctions but also pose a significant threat to the security of Baltic countries.
International maritime law, ensuring the freedom of navigation, complicates the automatic detention of these ships. Furthermore, these ships often sail under the flags of third countries, making identification difficult.
Are the ships spying for Putin?
According to the Kyiv School of Economics, shadow ships transport almost 70% more oil than a year earlier. They illegally export crude oil to China, India, and Global South countries.
In the summer of 2024, the United Kingdom and EU countries announced plans to start a crackdown on the shadow fleet. A special group was supposed to develop specific actions to pursue and eliminate vessels that enable Russia to circumvent sanctions and engage in espionage activities. However, this group has not made significant achievements thus far.
Swedish authorities suspect that tankers from the shadow fleet may be used for espionage, adding to security risks.
