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Finnish authorities plan to inspect the Eagle S tanker, suspected of being involved in sabotaging a Baltic undersea cable, the country’s transport agency said Thursday (2 January).
Sanna Sonninen, director of the agency, said the tanker is suspected of belonging to Russia’s “shadow fleet“ and was involved in the sabotage.
The inspection is planned for later Thursday, in addition to an inquiry already undertaken by Finnish police.
“On January 2, 2025, the Finnish Transport and Communications Agency Traficom will start a control inspection,” Sonninen said in a statement.
“We are carrying out the inspection in a way that does not interfere with the police operations and the investigation.”
The Cook Islands-flagged Eagle S is suspected of damaging the EstLink2 power cable linking Finland and Estonia on December 25.
Seven sailors were placed under investigation on Tuesday (31 December) and banned from leaving the country.
The Eagle S is suspected of belonging to Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet” being used to transport crude oil and petroleum products to circumvent sanctions and price caps imposed by Western countries supporting Ukraine on Moscow.
Several similar incidents have taken place in the Baltic since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022.
Two telecommunications cables were cut earlier in the autumn on November 17 and 18 in Swedish territorial waters.
A Chinese-flagged bulk carrier, the Yi Peng 3, sailed above the cables at the time and is suspected of involvement. It has since left the area.
Energy and communications infrastructure have been targeted as part of what experts and politicians say is a “hybrid war” between Russia and Western countries.
The Baltic Sea is surrounded by several NATO members, with the military alliance promising to step up protection against attacks on critical infrastructure.
The Western military alliance, announced, after the cable cut, its member states will enhance presence in the Baltic Sea. Estonia has already sent a ship to protect the EstLink1 power cable.
The European Union announced in response that it was strengthening measures to protect undersea cables by improving the exchange of information and using new detection technology as well as repair capabilities.
[Edited by Alice Taylor-Braçe]
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