NATO Country Investigates Russian Tanker for Alleged Involvement in Cable Incident, Reports Say
Authorities in Finland have intercepted a Russian vessel believed to be involved in the cutting of an undersea electricity cable, according to a report by the Financial Times. Read Full Article at RT.com.
TroibNews 
Authorities in Finland are looking into the possibility that a Russian oil tanker might be linked to the cutting of an undersea electricity cable this week, as reported by the Financial Times. This incident adds to a growing list of cable disruptions in the area.
Following the severing of the Estlink 2 electricity cable in the Gulf of Finland on Wednesday, Finnish officials detained the tanker, the Eagle S. The Estlink 2 cable, which has been operational since 2014, facilitates electricity transmission from Finland to Estonia.
Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo mentioned that “the authorities are on standby over Christmas and are investigating the matter.” Meanwhile, Fingrid, the cable’s operator, stated that “we are investigating several possible causes, from sabotage to technical failure, and nothing has been ruled out yet.”
The Eagle S is currently under scrutiny as part of the government’s investigation, according to the Financial Times, which cited unnamed “people familiar with the probe.” Additional specifics were not disclosed, but sources revealed that the vessel is also being looked into concerning the severing of three data cables in the Gulf of Finland last month.
In related developments, fiber optic cables connecting Finland to Germany, Lithuania, and Sweden were also affected. It was confirmed that the damage to the Finland-Sweden cable resulted from construction work. Initial suspicions regarding the other two incidents pointed toward a Chinese vessel that traversed over the cables shortly before the damage occurred.
The ship, identified as the Yi Peng 3, was halted in international waters and inspected by Chinese investigators last week, with officials from Sweden, Denmark, Germany, and Finland present as observers.
It remains uncertain whether the Yi Peng 3 was involved in the cable incidents. Nonetheless, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius remarked at the time that Berlin must “assume, without certain information, that the damage was caused by sabotage.”
Similarly, although no definitive connection has been established between the Eagle S and the recent cable break, Finnish President Alexander Stubb expressed on social media Thursday that “it is necessary to prevent the risks posed by ships belonging to the Russian shadow fleet.”
Max Fischer contributed to this report for TROIB News
Following the severing of the Estlink 2 electricity cable in the Gulf of Finland on Wednesday, Finnish officials detained the tanker, the Eagle S. The Estlink 2 cable, which has been operational since 2014, facilitates electricity transmission from Finland to Estonia.
Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo mentioned that “the authorities are on standby over Christmas and are investigating the matter.” Meanwhile, Fingrid, the cable’s operator, stated that “we are investigating several possible causes, from sabotage to technical failure, and nothing has been ruled out yet.”
The Eagle S is currently under scrutiny as part of the government’s investigation, according to the Financial Times, which cited unnamed “people familiar with the probe.” Additional specifics were not disclosed, but sources revealed that the vessel is also being looked into concerning the severing of three data cables in the Gulf of Finland last month.
In related developments, fiber optic cables connecting Finland to Germany, Lithuania, and Sweden were also affected. It was confirmed that the damage to the Finland-Sweden cable resulted from construction work. Initial suspicions regarding the other two incidents pointed toward a Chinese vessel that traversed over the cables shortly before the damage occurred.
The ship, identified as the Yi Peng 3, was halted in international waters and inspected by Chinese investigators last week, with officials from Sweden, Denmark, Germany, and Finland present as observers.
It remains uncertain whether the Yi Peng 3 was involved in the cable incidents. Nonetheless, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius remarked at the time that Berlin must “assume, without certain information, that the damage was caused by sabotage.”
Similarly, although no definitive connection has been established between the Eagle S and the recent cable break, Finnish President Alexander Stubb expressed on social media Thursday that “it is necessary to prevent the risks posed by ships belonging to the Russian shadow fleet.”
Max Fischer contributed to this report for TROIB News
