Russian shadow fleet strikes: Tanker suspected in cable damage
Estonian telecommunications operators mentioned on Thursday that a tanker from the "Russian shadow fleet," sailing under the Cook Islands flag, is suspected of damaging the EstLink 2 underwater power cable. Cable disruptions have been reported on four submarine lines.
On Wednesday, the Estlink 2 power cable, which connects Finland with Estonia, was severed on the Baltic Sea's seabed. Finnish authorities suspect the tanker Eagle S, part of the Russian shadow fleet, is responsible. Finnish officials boarded the ship and found that the anchors were not in their proper place.
Estonian telecommunications operators reported disruptions in data transmission between Estonia and Finland on Thursday. The issues concern four submarine cables passing through the Gulf of Finland. According to the European Commission, there is currently no threat to the security of the electricity supply in the region.
Brussels: The vessel belongs to the shadow fleet
The European Commission confirmed on Thursday that the tanker suspected of damaging the cable belongs to the Russian shadow fleet. In a statement, they commented that "the incident with the submarine cables in the Baltic Sea is the latest in a series of potential attacks on critical infrastructure." The Commission emphasised that "we commend the Finnish authorities for their prompt response in boarding the suspect ship. We are cooperating with Finnish authorities in the ongoing investigation. "
Europe has long been monitoring the ships belonging to the shadow fleet. They pose a threat to security and the environment while funding Russia's war budget.
We will propose further measures, including sanctions, to target this fleet, announced the European Commission on Thursday.
The shadow fleet comprises ageing tankers transporting Russian oil in Baltic waters. As reported in Money.pl, they are becoming a more significant problem in the Baltic. The Kremlin uses these inexpensive tankers, registered in various countries, to transport Russian crude oil. These vessels not only help Putin evade sanctions but also present a substantial threat to the security of Baltic countries.
International maritime law, which ensures freedom of navigation, complicates the automatic detention of these ships. Furthermore, these ships often sail under the flags of third countries, making their identification challenging.
Are the ships spying for Putin?
According to the Kyiv School of Economics, shadow ships transport nearly 70% more oil than a year earlier. They illegally export crude oil to China, India, and other Global South countries.
In the summer of 2024, the United Kingdom and EU countries announced plans to pursue the shadow fleet. A special group was supposed to develop specific actions to track and eliminate vessels that enable Russia to circumvent sanctions and engage in espionage activities. However, this group has not yet made significant accomplishments.
Swedish officials suspect tankers from the shadow fleet may be used for espionage activities, creating further security risks.
