December 26th 2024.
A boat was recently spotted off the coast of Porkkalanniemi, Finland, causing quite a stir among officials. It turns out that the boat is linked to Russia and is suspected of causing damage to a vital power cable in the Baltic Sea. Finnish authorities wasted no time in taking action, with police and border guards boarding the ship, known as the Eagle S, around midnight.
According to Helsinki Police Chief Jari Liukku, the ship was traveling through Finland's exclusive economic zone before being taken into Finnish waters. Despite being flagged in the Cook Islands, customs officials in Finland believe that the Eagle S is part of Russia's secretive "shadow fleet" of fuel tankers. These ships often have complex ownership structures in an attempt to avoid sanctions imposed by Western countries after Russia's controversial invasion of Ukraine.
It is believed that the Eagle S's anchor caused damage to a crucial electric cable that transmits power from Finland to Estonia. This is not the first time such an incident has occurred, as the Nord Stream gas pipelines and two data cables have also been sabotaged in recent years. In response to the situation, Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal announced that a meeting will be held to discuss the issue on Thursday.
The German defense minister also weighed in on the matter, stating that they believe the incident to be an act of sabotage. However, no evidence has been provided and the responsible party has not been named. This statement was made during a discussion on the threat of hybrid warfare from Russia.
It is worth noting that this is not the first time the Nord Stream pipelines have been targeted. In September 2022, the pipelines were damaged by underwater explosions, leading authorities to launch criminal investigations into the matter. Fortunately, Estonian network operator Elering has stated that there is enough spare capacity to meet power needs on their side, ensuring that there will be no power shortages as a result of this incident.
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