Additional Coverage:
- Finland detained an oil tanker it says was part of Russia’s ‘shadow fleet’ helping fund its war in Ukraine (newsbreak.com)
Oil Tanker Seized in Baltic Sea Cable Investigation
An undersea cable providing power to Estonia was damaged on Wednesday. Finnish authorities suspect an oil tanker caused the outage and seized the vessel on Thursday.
The tanker, Eagle S, is registered in Cook Islands but is believed to be part of Russia’s “shadow fleet.” This fleet of tankers is used to evade sanctions imposed after the Ukraine war.
Finland’s Prime Minister, Petteri Orpo, expressed concern about the shadow fleet, which funds Russia’s war effort. President Alexander Stubb also called for action to address the risks posed by the fleet.
The damage to the cable highlights growing concerns about the vulnerability of undersea infrastructure. In November, data cables were cut in the Baltic Sea, leading to suspicions of sabotage.