Investigators Uncover Seabed Trail Linked to Suspected Russian Sabotage of Underwater Electricity Cable
Finnish investigators have announced the discovery of a nearly 100-kilometer seabed trail surrounding an underwater electricity cable that was damaged on Christmas Day, in what is being investigated as a suspected act of Russian sabotage. The vessel suspected of causing the damage, identified as the Eagle S and flying the flag of the Cook Islands, is believed to be part of Russia's so-called shadow fleet, which is involved in transporting oil products subject to international embargoes following the 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
Police Chief Investigator Sami Paila stated on Sunday that the drag mark found on the seabed appears to be from the Eagle S's anchor. "Our current understanding is that the drag mark in question is that of the anchor of the Eagle S, and we have clarified this matter through underwater research," Paila revealed to the Finnish national broadcaster Yle.
The incident has caused significant damage to the Estlink 2 electricity cable, which connects Finland and Estonia. Repairs are expected to take months, potentially leading to increased electricity prices in Estonia during the winter months. This incident is part of a series of suspicious activities leading to damage of underwater power and communication cables in the region.
While Paila emphasized that determining intent is crucial and will be thoroughly investigated, a senior Estonian official expressed little doubt that the actions constituted a deliberate attack. "If you're dragging an anchor, it can't be that you don't notice it because the ship would go off course. It's clearly not possible," the official stated in an interview with The Guardian.
It was reported that the crew of the Eagle S consisted of Georgian and Indian nationals; however, the vessel had recently docked in Russia and was believed to be carrying Russian oil products. After the alarm was raised on Christmas Day, both Finland and Estonia dispatched ships to the site of the damage. However, the Estonian vessel was unable to navigate the stormy seas, leaving the Finnish crew to take charge. During the uncertainty of identifying the responsible ship, it was noted that the Eagle S had also severed two communication lines.
The Estonian official revealed that while the damage to the Estlink 2 cable has significant implications, it was fortunate that the Eagle S was intercepted prior to inflicting any harm on the Estlink 1 cable, which also connects Finland and Estonia. In response to the situation, Estonia has launched a naval and special forces operation to secure the integrity of the remaining underwater pipeline.
This act of sabotage comes at a critical time as Estonia plans to disconnect its power grid from the antiquated Soviet network and integrate with a Central European network by spring. The official warned that the cable damage would likely be financially burdensome, recalling that a previous disruption to the same cable last year led to a 10% increase in costs for consumers, resulting in Estonians paying an additional 90 million euros due to the outage.
Adding to the backdrop of these incidents, last month, two fiber optic cables sustained similar damage from what appeared to be a Chinese vessel in waters between Sweden and Denmark. Repeated acts of sabotage in the Baltic Sea prompted NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte to announce on Friday that the alliance would enhance its military presence in the region.
In response to the escalating threats, the Estonian official indicated that their military operation would provide monitoring for unusual maritime activity and ensure a rapid response to potential dangers. "We aim to identify suspicious vessels or intervene if we observe any anchors in the water to prevent any adverse effects on our underwater infrastructure," the official concluded.
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