Finnish police have discovered an anchor drag mark on the Baltic seabed where the Estlink 2 power cable was damaged, stretching for dozens of kilometers. The exact point where the anchor was lowered has not been determined.
According to Detective Chief Inspector Sami Paila, the mark is likely caused by the anchor of Russia’s oil tanker Eagle S, part of the country’s shadow fleet. Underwater investigations confirmed this finding.
The investigation has been temporarily suspended due to poor weather conditions. The Eagle S, sailing under the Cook Islands flag, is suspected of damaging the Estlink 2 cable and four other communication cables in the Gulf of Finland on December 25.
The tanker is currently held near Porvoo, Finland, with its crew being questioned. The Eagle S was previously equipped with surveillance devices to monitor NATO naval and air forces, raising concerns about its activities.
The incident has been linked to Russia’s shadow fleet, which transports oil in violation of Western sanctions.
Source: https://meduza.io/en/news/2024/12/30/after-estlink-2-cable-damage-finnish-police-discover-60-mile-anchor-drag-mark-on-baltic-seabed