Allies convened at #NATO HQ in Brussels to consult on the security of critical infrastructure in the Baltic Sea following recent incidents. NATO is already enhancing its military presence in the #Baltic. Additional measures are under consideration. https://t.co/JB9GW7u23f
— Boris Ruge (@RugeBoris) December 31, 2024
Finland has seized a tanker suspected of being part of Russia’s “shadow fleet” and causing damage to the Estlink 2 undersea power cable between Finland and Estonia. The incident occurred on Christmas Day and also damaged multiple data cables, though it had little immediate impact on services. Finnish authorities discovered a 60-mile-long anchor drag mark on the seafloor, which they attribute to the Russian-affiliated ship, Eagle S.
The 70,000-ton crude oil tanker, registered in the Cook Islands, was seized by Finnish authorities for investigation.
1/2 #NZ Govt claims it isn’t responsible for Cook Islands-flagged vessel shipping Russian oil
which is true, https://t.co/yDmBScrhXw but joint declaration between NZ & CI Govts has hooks which enable NZ to raise a red flag. https://t.co/8UGOV6rSf3@MichaelFieldNZ— Helen Clark (@HelenClarkNZ) December 30, 2024
The National Bureau of Investigation has opened a criminal case against the ship on charges including aggravated criminal mischief and aggravated interference with communications. Crew members are being questioned, and confiscated materials from the ship are under analysis, which could take several months.
European leaders have condemned the incident, with Estonia’s interior minister, Lauri Läänemets, emphasizing the need to protect critical infrastructure.
Finlandization: More Please | "Russia’s sabotage operations have just hit their first real obstacle." @edwardlucas https://t.co/MayJZo6QzQ
— CEPA (@cepa) December 30, 2024
While direct blame on Russia hasn’t been established, he noted that it’s highly unlikely that three such incidents in a year could merely be coincidental. NATO has responded by promising more military reinforcement in the Baltic Sea, including enhanced naval patrols.
Finland seizes Russian shadow fleet tanker
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte announced plans to bolster military operations in the region.
What to make of the recent undersea cable breakages in the Baltic Sea?
"Someone is now testing how inexpensive ships can cause major disruptions across the Western world. We must intervene," says Hybrid CoE's Jukka Savolainen in an ERR News article.https://t.co/NKWY42exLT
— Hybrid CoE (@HybridCoE) December 30, 2024
Some European officials, like Marko Mihkelson from Estonia, have criticized the EU for being too slow in responding to such threats.
Russia’s shadow fleet refers to a network of older vessels that are used to evade Western sanctions and allegedly conduct covert operations. These tankers often operate without Western-regulated insurance and employ tactics such as signal jamming to hide their movements. Many of these ships are registered under false flags to obscure their origins.
Analysts believe that the Kremlin has invested significantly in expanding this network. According to Janne Riihelainen, a national security columnist, Russia’s actions are part of a broader strategy to disrupt the lives of Western citizens amidst the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. As the investigation continues, European leaders, along with NATO, are taking steps to secure critical infrastructure in the Baltic Sea.
The incident underscores the vulnerabilities of undersea cables and the potential risks posed by the shadow fleet. Targeted sanctions against entities involved in these covert operations are being proposed to deter further sabotage and ensure the stability of regional infrastructure.
