Crew of “Eagle S” tanker under investigation over damage to Baltic cables
2.01.2025 - 10:27
Finland suspects at least seven crew members of the “Eagle S” tanker, detained over cable damage in the Baltic Sea.
Seven crew members of the “Eagle S” tanker, detained in Finland over a ruptured submarine cable in the Baltic Sea, are suspected of serious offenses. This was reported by police spokeswoman Elina Katayamaki, writes “European Pravda”.
The sailors are accused of interfering with work and disrupting telecommunications under aggravating circumstances. The Finnish authorities have banned them from leaving the country.
The travel ban was chosen as a less severe measure compared to arrest, in order to ensure the participation of the suspects in investigative actions. The police assume that the list of suspects may be expanded.
As a reminder, on December 28, the Finnish police and coast guard detained the tanker “Eagle S”. The investigation believes that on December 25, the tanker damaged the Estlink 2 power cable connecting Finland and Estonia, and also caused damage to four fiber-optic lines, dragging an anchor along the seabed for tens of kilometers.
Finnish customs classify the “Eagle S” as a member of the “shadow fleet” used to circumvent sanctions on the sale of Russian oil. The ship’s cargo was officially confiscated, but it still remains on board.
Also, during a search of the ship, law enforcement officers found spy equipment used to monitor maritime activity in the region.
The ruptures of underwater cables were part of a series of incidents in the Baltic region, which caused concern among the countries of the region. In response to the sabotage, NATO members agreed to strengthen their military presence in the Baltic Sea and step up new measures to protect critical underwater infrastructure.
