On Christmas Day, a crucial undersea electricity cable running between Finland and Estonia, known as EstLink 2, was mysteriously disconnected. The incident occurred at 12:26 pm local time, leaving Finnish authorities scrambling to figure out what had happened. This was no small matter—these undersea cables are essential for transmitting electricity between countries, keeping the lights on, and ensuring stability in the region.
Almost immediately, Finnish officials suspected foul play. Arto Pahkin, the head of operations for Finland’s electricity grid, made it clear that sabotage could not be ruled out. The damage wasn’t limited to just one cable either. Authorities later revealed that at least three other undersea cables had also been harmed, potentially as part of the same incident.
This raised alarms across Finland and beyond, especially as the cables connect NATO member states. The authorities quickly launched an investigation, and their findings pointed them toward a large vessel that had passed through the area during the time of the incident.
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Russian Oil Tanker Under Investigation
The focus of the investigation turned to an oil tanker called the Eagle S. Registered to the Cook Islands, this ship is widely believed to be part of Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet.” This fleet, consisting of hundreds of old and poorly maintained ships, has been used by Russia to evade sanctions imposed due to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. These vessels operate with secrecy, using tricks like false ownership records, fake cargo data, and frequent identification blackouts.
What made the Eagle S stand out was its suspicious behavior. The ship was reportedly carrying oil from Russia to Egypt when it passed over the damaged EstLink 2 cable. Finnish authorities believe that the tanker’s anchor may have been used to cut the cables. To make matters even more suspicious, the ship’s anchor was missing when it was seized for inspection.
The Eagle S was seized by Finnish authorities on Thursday, just a few days after the cables were cut. The ship is now being closely examined as part of the ongoing investigation.
A Troubling Pattern of Undersea Cable Attacks
The Christmas Day cable cutting is not an isolated event. In recent months, there have been several similar incidents involving underwater cables in the region. For example, last month, two fiber-optic cables in the Baltic Sea were severed—one connecting Finland and Germany, and another linking Lithuania and Sweden. These incidents, too, are believed to be linked to Russia’s shadow fleet.
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Undersea cables are vital infrastructure that most people don’t think about. They are used for everything from electricity transmission to internet connectivity. Yet, they are surprisingly vulnerable. Most cables are no thicker than a garden hose and lie exposed on the ocean floor. This makes them easy targets for sabotage.
Russia’s shadow fleet has been observed lingering near critical infrastructure in the Baltic and North Seas, raising concerns about the country’s intentions. While these incidents haven’t caused major disruptions yet, they highlight the risks of such attacks.
Interestingly, this isn’t the first time ship anchors have been suspected in cable damage. Other countries, like China, have also been accused of using similar tactics in the past. It’s a simple but effective way to harm undersea infrastructure without drawing too much attention—at least initially.
