Russia has assembled a fleet of hundreds of vessels to covertly ship its oil around the world, raising concerns that Moscow may now be using some ships to cause harm. The Kremlin’s shadow fleet is believed to have been involved in intentionally sabotaging critical infrastructure in Europe.
The latest incident involves the Finnish commandos boarding an oil tanker called the Eagle S, which officials suspect had cut through vital underwater cables in the Baltic Sea. If confirmed, it would be the first known instance of a shadow fleet vessel being used to sabotage European infrastructure.
Western officials and experts say this marks a clear escalation by Russia in its conflict with the West. Estonia’s interior minister Lauri Läänemets said, “We know about Russia’s shadow fleet operating in our waters… We’re not going to tolerate any further acts of sabotage.”
Russia has relatively unfettered access to the Baltic Sea from several ports, and its commercial vessels can move around international waters largely unmolested. However, officials have responded aggressively to the Eagle S, taking over the bridge and preventing the vessel from sailing.
The ship’s unusual characteristics, including a lack of insurance and major indicators of being a shadow vessel, have raised suspicions that it was involved in the sabotage. An inspection discovered 24 defects, including problems with fire safety and navigation systems, an “astounding number” according to Yuliia Pavytska, manager of the sanctions program at the Kyiv School of Economics Institute.
This incident marks a significant escalation in tensions between Russia and the West, as NATO has grown by two members, Sweden and Finland, both significant Baltic powers. The Baltic Sea is becoming increasingly important for operations against Russian threats, with NATO jets often scrambling to respond to Russian military aircraft.
The suspicions of Russian involvement in sabotage have been building since the Ukraine war began, with several incidents involving explosions and damage to critical undersea infrastructure. Last year, a Hong Kong-registered ship cut through a gas pipeline between Finland and Estonia, while a Chinese-flagged ship had its fiber optic cables cut in the Baltic Sea last month.
The response to the Eagle S has been intense, with Finnish officers taking over the bridge and preventing the vessel from sailing. The ship remains at anchor, guarded by a missile boat and a Border Guard patrol vessel.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/28/world/europe/russia-ship-shadow-fleet-finland.html