The “Eagle S” is suspected of being part of Vladimir Putin’s “ghost fleet”. x/keystone
After a ship from Russia’s “ghost fleet” damaged several cables in the Baltic Sea, Finland took drastic measures. A reaction welcomed by experts, who assure that these incidents must be treated firmly.
Niels Anner, Copenhagen / ch media
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In the Baltic Sea, we no longer believe in coincidences or accidents. On December 25, between Finland and Estonia, five submarine cables – one electric and four internet lines – were cut. The Finnish police immediately opened an investigation for aggravated sabotage.
A 228 meter Russian tanker, the “Eagle S”, which is part of the Russian “ghost fleet”, was precisely at this location and was moving very slowly over the power cable “Estlink 2” at the time of the break, a suspicious behavior already observed in the past.
The following Friday, NATO announced it would strengthen its presence in the Baltic Sea to protect important infrastructuresaid Mark Rutte, Secretary General of NATO, who spoke with Finnish President Alexander Stubb. At the same time, Estonia has patrolled its warships near another cable linking Finland, and Sweden has stepped up surveillance of its own underwater installations.
An anchor was missing
Finland acted without delay: two helicopters carrying heavily armed police units and the coast guard were dispatched to board and inspect the “Eagle S”. When the captain was asked to pull up the chains, one of the anchors was missingas explained by Robin Lardot, head of investigators.
Anchors are the easiest way to damage cables. Such acts have already been observed: in autumn 2023, evidence showed that a Chinese container ship damaged a gas pipe and several internet cables. In November, thehe Chinese ship “Yi Peng 3” allegedly cut two data cables between Finland, Germany, Sweden and Lithuania using its anchoraccording to investigators.
In the case of the “Yi Peng 3,” Nordic military ships monitored it for weeks in international waters. But China banned investigators from boarding. Finland’s firm response is welcomed by experts. According to Brian Mathiesen, professor of energy security, a strong response is crucial. The current situation represents a “new chapter in hybrid warfare.”
For the moment, energy security is not threatened by occasional disruptions. But Nordic intelligence services have already warned that Russia could target major energy installations like wind turbines or oil platforms with hybrid attacks.
A ship from the Russian “ghost fleet”
The “Eagle S” is not Chinese, but sails under the flag of the Polynesian Cook Islands, and has a Georgian and Indian crew. However, experts link it to the Russian “ghost fleet”, a group of questionable old ships often at the edge of seaworthiness. These ships carry oil and other fuels for Russia, circumventing Western sanctions.
These tankers are generally not insured, which prevents any financial liability in the event of an ecological disaster. Two weeks ago, the European Union has decided to strengthen controls on these ships and require their insurance documents. Experts fear that Moscow will respond by protecting these cargoes with warships.
To secure immense networks of cables and pipelines, there should be coordinated monitoring of maritime movements in the Baltic Sea, explained Jens Kristoffersen, a Danish military analyst. A colossal challenge, but necessary according to specialists.
While Russia’s hybrid operations are primarily aimed at sowing uncertainty and testing Western responses, they nevertheless constitute a serious threatunderlined Margus Tsahkna, Estonian Foreign Minister:
“We cannot stand by and watch”
Margus Tsahkna
(Translated from German by Tim Boekholt)
