Finland says it suspects an oil tanker in Russia's shadow fleet of damaging three undersea internet cables on December 25, the latest Baltic Sea cable damaged

Richard Milne / Financial Times :

Financial Times 2024-12-27 Richard Milne

Context & Ripple Effects

The report follows November disruptions to cables linking Lithuania-Sweden and Finland-Germany, which had already put the Baltic Sea's communications infrastructure under heightened scrutiny. Finland's suspicion now connects that vulnerability to a vessel described as part of Russia's shadow fleet, though the report does not establish intent.

The broader coverage also includes a later report of Finland seizing a vessel over suspected damage to a Helsinki-Estonia cable, suggesting that maritime enforcement is becoming a recurring response to cable incidents in the region.

First-order effects

Finnish authorities face an immediate investigation into the tanker and the reported damage to three internet cables, while affected network operators must assess service continuity and repairs.
The vessel and other ships operating in the area are likely to receive closer attention from Finnish maritime and security authorities.

Second-order effects

Repeated incidents push cable owners and operators to review route redundancy, monitoring, and repair readiness for Baltic connections rather than treating each outage as an isolated fault.
Shipping linked to Russia's shadow fleet may face more intensive inspection and tracking in sensitive waters, increasing operational friction even where intent cannot be proven.

Third-order effects

If damage incidents and enforcement actions continue, Baltic states may treat subsea connectivity as infrastructure requiring persistent maritime protection, not only post-incident repair.
The pattern could deepen the overlap between sanctions enforcement, commercial shipping oversight, and telecom resilience; the available coverage still leaves the causes of individual incidents contested.

The trend: Baltic governments are increasingly treating subsea cable resilience as a maritime-security issue amid recurring damage reports and uncertain attribution.

Discussion

@phillyfilly @phillyfilly on bluesky
Disruption leads to chaos leads to conquest.
@tslwhidbey Trisha Soncini Lane on bluesky
I've said since the first internet cables were cut almost a couple months ago, something very bad is coming right after January 20th, and trump will back ruzzia, and pull out of NATO, saying it's not our problem. [embedded post]
@benevoluspf @benevoluspf on bluesky
Russia has become the world's biggest nuisance player.
@kristenmichalpm Kristen Michal on x
Thank you, @PetteriOrpo, for the call and our excellent cooperation in recent days. Glad that we managed to act decisively and stop the suspected vessel for further investigation. We need to step up our bilateral, NB8, EU and NATO cooperation to keep our critical cables secure.
@craigkennedy77 Craig Kennedy on x
More bad judgement by Moscow, as it offers yet another reason to crack down on the shadow fleet. The Kremlin is losing the plot. https://www.ft.com/... via @ft
@mercoglianos @mercoglianos on x
The Cook-Island crude oil tanker #EagleS has been boarded by Finnish authorities due to its suspected involvement in cutting cables between Finland and Estonia. The ship is part of the Dark Fleet hauling Russian oil outside the normal transportation network. Over the last [video]
@kristenmichalpm Kristen Michal on x
Despite holidays, many people in Estonia and Finland have been working for the last two days to identify the problem for the Estlink-2 disconnection. My government will hold an extraordinary meeting this afternoon. We are in close contact with our Nordic-Baltic colleagues.
@elisabethbraw Elisabeth Braw on x
“We have reacted quickly and decisively”, Prime Minister Petteri Orpo of Finland says regarding the suspected cable sabotage by the Eagle S. Well done Finland. The shadow fleet is a scourge, and a double scourge if/when its vessels harm undersea cables. https://yle.fi/...
@braze_baiba Baiba Braže on x
Statement by the EU🇪🇺 on Damaged Cables in the Baltic Sea: We commend the Finnish authorities for their swift action in boarding the suspected vessel [..] The vessel is part of Russia's shadow fleet. We will propose further measures to target this fleet. https://www.eeas.europa.e…
@hennavirkkunen Henna Virkkunen on x
I welcome the determined action by the Finnish authorities in relation to the cable incidents in the Baltic Sea yesterday. Depending on the results of the investigations, the EU is ready to act. The new sanctions framework provides effective tools to address hybrid threats.
@eu_eeas @eu_eeas on x
Joint Statement by the European Commission and the High Representative @kajakallas on the Investigation into Damaged Electricity and Data Cables in the Baltic Sea. Read more: https://europa.eu/!k6cCfB [video]
@gitanasnauseda @gitanasnauseda on x
Damaged critical undersea infrastructure power cables linking Finland and Estonia show us the increasing frequency of cable disruptions in the Baltic Sea. It no longer seems like a coincidence. Protecting maritime infrastructure must be raised both at the #NATO level and
@kristenmichalpm Kristen Michal on x
Highly appreciate your firm support, @vonderleyen, @kajakallas. Consistent attacks against the underwater infrastructure between the EU members needs a joint and decisive response. Warmly welcome the efforts of the @EU_Commission to strengthen the measures against such acts.
@p_kallioniemi Pekka Kallioniemi on x
So far, three cables between Finland and Estonia appear to have been sabotaged, likely with involvement from Russia and China. Yet, there have been zero consequences for the perpetrators. How much longer will we tolerate this? Analysis by @auonsson [image]
@andrisspruds Andris Spruds on x
Damaged undersea cables between Finland and Estonia are a worrying sign that must be taken seriously. We stand firmly with our Finnish, Estonian, and other NATO allies in safeguarding our critical maritime infrastructure. The Latvian National Armed Forces have intensified
@kprikk Kristjan Prikk on x
ESTLINK2 undersea power cable between Estonia and Finland cut + several undersea data cables cut/damaged in the Baltic Sea. 🇫🇮 has detained the oil tanker belonging to russian shadow fleet suspected of aggravated vandalism by anchor drag. Estonian 🇪🇪 government is meeting and is
@kajakallas Kaja Kallas on x
The incident involving undersea cables in the Baltic Sea is the latest in a series of suspected attacks on critical infrastructure. We commend the Finnish authorities for their swift action in boarding the suspected vessel. My joint statement → https://europa.eu/!k6cCfB (1/3)
@kristenmichalpm Kristen Michal on x
Thank you for your timely phone call, @SecGenNATO. Grateful for your continued support. With systematic attacks against our critical infrastructure, NATO's unity, close cooperation and decisive response remains vital.
@ambdanfried Daniel Fried on x
Another apparent act of Russian sabotage against European infrastructure. Not the acts of a government seeking peace.
@estoniangovt @estoniangovt on x
The Estonian Government gathered for an extraordinary session this afternoon to discuss the outage of Estlink 2. A press conference with @KristenMichalPM will be held at 6 p.m., to provide an overview of the situation and further steps. Follow it here ⬇️ https://www.youtube.com/.…
@secgennato Mark Rutte on x
Spoke with @KristenMichalPM about reported possible sabotage of Baltic Sea cables. #NATO stands in solidarity with Allies and condemns any attacks on critical infrastructure. We are following investigations by #Estonia & #Finland, and we stand ready to provide further support.
@bopanc Bojan Pancevski on x
🚨 New Baltic sabotage alert: Finland detained a tanker carrying Russian oil on the suspicion that it had severed undersea power and data cables on Christmas Day ⁦@WSJ⁩ https://www.wsj.com/...
@elinavaltonen Elina Valtonen on x
Spoke with Margus Tsahkna about the #Estlink2 & wider Baltic Sea undersea infrastructure damages. Our authorities are investigating the incidents. At this point, we can't rule out deliberate action. There have been too many disruptive incidents below the #BalticSea recently.
@terischultz Teri Schultz on x
Have no doubt how seriously Finland is taking this incident: Here's the assembly of law-enforcement authorities holding a press conference on a national holiday. 1/ [image]
@thorstenbenner Thorsten Benner on x
All this (including often neglected issue of investing in repair capabilities) makes sense. But more is needed to impose costs on those behind these acts. Otherwise no increase of deterrence against grey zone attacks. [image]
@tsahkna Margus Tsahkna on x
Spoke with @elinavaltonen about #Estlink2 & wider Baltic Sea infrastructure damages. Estonia & Finland are in close cooperation on this matter. Cant rule out deliberate damage to the cable. There have been too many incidents at #BalticSea that coincidences are becoming unlikely.
@gicariana @gicariana on x
Russia is waging war against the free world, and we aren't defending ourselves. We aren't helping Ukraine defeat Russia militarily and politically to prevent brazen, naked acts of military aggression against us. We help Ukraine today or battle Russian tanks on our soil tomorrow.
@vonderleyen Ursula von der Leyen on x
Yesterday's Baltic Sea incident highlights threats to EU infrastructure. We commend Finland's swift action and stand with Finland, Estonia and Germany. Together we will increase our common protection of European critical infrastructure including undersea cables.
@terischultz Teri Schultz on x
After ANOTHER cable is damaged in the Baltic Sea, Finnish President @alexstubb makes clear where suspicions lie even before the investigation is complete. “We must be able to prevent the risks posed by ships in Russia's shadow fleet,” he says after a briefing on the incident.
@teroterotero Tero Kuittinen on x
They actually lost the anchor when they were wrecking the cable...
@bayraktar_1love @bayraktar_1love on x
The Finnish National Bureau of Investigation announced at a press conference that the damage to the EstLink 2 submarine cable was likely caused by the anchor of the Russian shadow fleet's oil tanker Eagle S, according to preliminary assessments. The anchor was not found when the …
@tallbarfin Tomi on x
More information about the operation of the Finnish authorities on Christmas Day: Shortly after the cable failure was discovered, Finnish police high readiness unit landed on the Eagle S ship by air and took over the bridge. Crew didn't have time to react this time.
@teroterotero Tero Kuittinen on x
EU must shut down the Russian shadow fleet now - no entry to Baltic Sea.
@jayinkyiv @jayinkyiv on x
The Finns immediately seized the offending Russian tanker by air. This should happen to every member of Russia's shadow fleet.
@edgarsrinkevics Edgars Rinkēvičs on x
Damaged undersea cables between Finland and Estonia most probably is not a coincidence to put it nicely. Latvia stands in solidarity with our Finnish and Estonian allies. Protecting critical maritime infrastructure must be one of key NATO's and regional tasks in the Baltic Sea.
@gerashchenko_en Anton Gerashchenko on x
Analysis of the situation with EstLink2 cable and predictions about NordBalt cable by Belarusian political analyst Ihar Tyshkevich: The underwater electricity cable Estlink 2 connecting the Finnish and Estonian power grids has been damaged. It is one of two cables that have a [im…
@auonsson @auonsson on x
Oil tanker EAGLE S is a good candidate for damaging electrical cable Estlink 2. XIN XIN TIAN 2 a poor one. Details on the other site. [image]
@kjkresten @kjkresten on x
Eagle S executed a very unisual maneuver for a ship in transit exactly when Estlink 2 went down, and exactly on top of Estlink 2. [image]
@visegrad24 @visegrad24 on x
BREAKING: The undersea power cable Estlink 2 between Finland and Estonia has been destroyed. The Chinese vessel Xin Xin Tiang was sailing over it when it happened Xin Xin Tiang is a sister vessel of NewNew Polar which destroyed the undersea gas pipeline Balticconnector in 2023 [i…
@olganyc1211 Olga Lautman on x
Finnish grid company Fingrid has reported another cable break in the Baltic Sea. The power supply via the Estlink 2 cable, which connects Finland and Estonia, was cut off. This is the 4th incident in the region in a month https://theins.ru/...
@theresaafallon Theresa Fallon on x
👀Finland/Estonian undersea cable has been cut on Christmas. The Estlink Two is 1 of 2 cables connecting the Baltic power grid to Finland.🇨🇳ship Xin Xin Tiang crossed the cable at noon local time. This is the third time that a Chinese ship is suspected of involvement in cable cut …
@navylookout @navylookout on x
Another undersea cable broken in the Baltic Sea. EstLink line which supplies electrical power from Finland to 🇪🇪Estonia ruptured on Christmas Day. 🇭🇰Hong Kong-flagged container ship MV Xin Xin Tian 2 sailed from 🇷🇺St Petersburg on 24th and was near the cable at the time of the [i…
@davegreenidge57 @davegreenidge57 on x
Before this it was a cable between Sweden and Lithuanian. Before that was between Finland and Germany. At what point does this become an Article 5 issue? [image]
@igorsushko Igor Sushko on x
With constant Russian sabotage of undersea cables in the Gulf of Finland, it's time to blockade the passage.

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