Tanker from Russian shadow fleet implicated in 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. In total, there are disruptions in data transmission on four submarine cables, Estonian telecommunications operators reported on Thursday.
On Wednesday, the EstLink 2 power cable, which connects Finland with Estonia, was severed at the bottom of the Baltic Sea. Finnish authorities suspect the tanker Eagle S, part of the so-called Russian shadow fleet, is the perpetrator. Finnish officials boarded the ship and discovered that the anchors were not in their proper place.
Estonian telecommunications operators reported disruptions in data transmission between Estonia and Finland on Thursday. The issues affect four submarine cables that pass through the Gulf of Finland. 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 said 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 the 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, which operate in the Baltic waters. As reported by money.pl, they are becoming a more serious problem in the Baltic. Registered in many countries, these cheap tankers are used by the Kremlin 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. Moreover, 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 one year earlier. They engage in the illegal export of crude oil to China, India, and countries in the Global South.
In the summer of 2024, the United Kingdom and EU countries announced plans to pursue the shadow fleet. A special group was formed to develop specific actions to pursue and eliminate vessels, enabling Russia to circumvent sanctions and engage in espionage activities. So far, however, this group has had no significant achievements.
Swedish officials suspect that tankers from the shadow fleet may be used for espionage purposes, creating an additional security risk.
