Finnish prosecutors have charged the captain and two senior officers of a Russia-linked oil tanker accused of damaging undersea power and communication cables between Finland and Estonia last year. The men, whose names have not been released, face charges of aggravated criminal mischief and aggravated interference with communications. They have denied the allegations.
Authorities say the Cook Islands–flagged Eagle S dragged its anchor for roughly 90 kilometers (56 miles) across the Gulf of Finland seabed on December 25, 2024, severing five submarine cables. The damage affected the Estlink-2 power link and critical communications lines. The repairs are estimated to have cost at least €60 million ($69.7 million). While the cable damage did not halt electricity flow, it contributed to higher energy prices in the Baltic region.
The Estlink-2, which supplies up to half of Estonia’s winter electricity needs, is a key piece of infrastructure in Northern Europe’s interconnected power grid. Finnish officials say the disruption posed a “serious risk” to both energy supply and telecommunications. Prosecutors allege the incident occurred while the tanker was carrying oil products from Russia’s Ust-Luga port.
The Eagle S is part of what Finnish and EU authorities describe as Russia’s “shadow fleet” — aging tankers with murky ownership used to skirt Western sanctions on Russian oil. The Kremlin has denied involvement, but Western security analysts suspect the sabotage aligns with a broader pattern of hybrid warfare and infrastructure targeting by Moscow since its 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
The defendants argue Finland has no jurisdiction because the alleged damage occurred outside its territorial waters. Finnish officials counter that the case involves essential infrastructure serving Finland, making the charges valid under its laws.
The undersea cables and pipelines in the Baltic Sea are vital for trade, energy security, and reducing Europe’s reliance on Russian energy. Security services across the continent have stepped up monitoring of these assets in response to suspected sabotage attempts.
