NATO announced an increased military presence in the Baltic Sea following suspected sabotage of the Estlink 2 power cable and several undersea internet lines linking Finland and Estonia. The incidents have raised security concerns about critical infrastructure in the region.
On December 25, the Estlink 2 power cable suffered damage, causing a partial outage. Finnish authorities suspect the Cook Islands-flagged vessel Eagle S, part of Russia’s “shadow fleet,” was responsible. Investigators believe the ship dragged its anchor along the seabed, severing the cable. Finnish police boarded the ship on Thursday, detained its crew, and launched an investigation into possible deliberate sabotage.
The Russian tanker Eagle S, currently detained for allegedly severing the Estlink-2 cable in the Baltic Sea, was reportedly carrying advanced signals intelligence equipment, according to Lloyd’s List. Sources cited by the publication claim the equipment was used to monitor NATO naval vessels and aircraft.
The damaged Estlink 2 cable, with a capacity of 658 MW, shifted power reliance to the smaller Estlink 1, which can carry 358 MW. Finnish President Alexander Stubb confirmed the investigation, describing the incident as “aggravated criminal mischief.”
The vessel movement of Eagle S is very irregular and corresponds with the location and time of the damage to the Estlink 2 cables. pic.twitter.com/IpEUq13n3k
— Kamsarmax (@cashsarmax) December 25, 2024
The Baltic Sea has seen multiple disruptions to critical infrastructure since 2022, including damage to power, internet, and gas lines. Estonia and Finland have expressed concerns over the frequency of these incidents, suggesting deliberate sabotage rather than accidents. Estonia deployed naval forces to protect the operational Estlink 1 cable, and Sweden increased surveillance of ship traffic near its undersea installations.
Following a request from Finland, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte announced plans to strengthen the alliance’s presence in the Baltic Sea. Additional naval and aerial forces will be deployed to deter threats to undersea infrastructure.
The EU also plans to target Russia’s “shadow fleet,” which uses older vessels flagged to third countries to evade sanctions.
