Russian Tanker Implicated in Baltic Cable Damagext
A Russian tanker, Eagle S, is under investigation for dragging its anchor across the Baltic Sea floor, causing significant damage to subsea infrastructure.
Finnish authorities discovered drag marks spanning kilometers, leading to the severing of a major power cable between Finland and Estonia. text
The damage disrupted the 658 MW Estlink 2 power cable, leaving both nations reliant on a smaller 358 MW backup cable.
Photos of the tanker revealed its port-side anchor missing, with suspicions that it detached while dragging along the seabed.
The Eagle S, linked to a “shadow fleet” allegedly evading sanctions, was carrying Russian oil at the time of the incident, raising further alarms.
The Baltic Sea region remains on edge after repeated infrastructure damages since the Russia-Ukraine conflict began. NATO has vowed to enhance protection efforts.
While Finnish authorities investigate potential criminal activity, the Kremlin denies involvement, brushing off the incident.
The incident involving the Eagle S highlights rising tensions and vulnerabilities in critical infrastructure amid geopolitical conflicts. Investigations continue, but the damage is a stark reminder of the delicate balance in the Baltic Sea region.