In brief
Finland's authorities have concluded the initial stage of a criminal investigation into the Eagle S, a ship suspected of deliberate sabotage against vital undersea cables, allowing it to depart their waters while further inquiries are conducted.
The Finnish authorities announced on Sunday their decision to release the oil tanker Eagle S, initially seized in December due to suspicions of deliberate involvement in cutting undersea cables. This ship, believed to have connections to Russia's shadow fleet—vessels clandestinely transporting Russian crude oil—has raised alarm about covert attempts to disrupt European infrastructure. Although the Eagle S has now been permitted to leave Finland's territorial waters, Prime Minister Petteri Orpo emphasized the ongoing nature of the criminal investigation. He stated in an interview that while the inquiry had evolved, it would not halt, as police continued to assess evidence procured from an onboard forensic probe and a separate investigation of the crew.Eight crew members face criminal charges for aggravated mischief and interference with communications. While five have been allowed to depart Finland, the remaining three remain in the country under investigation. Officials anticipate completing their inquiries by the end of April.The cables' cutting incident, which occurred in December, was part of a worrying trend of similar actions in the region. Following these events, NATO has reinforced its security measures. In a parallel case, Swedish authorities announced the seizure of another vessel related to undersea cable damage, highlighting the growing concern over sabotage.Registered in the Cook Islands, the Eagle S had set sail from St. Petersburg, Russia, headed for Port Said, Egypt, before its seizure. The apprehension of such vessels plays into fears that Moscow may use its shadow fleet to bypass sanctions following their invasion of Ukraine, with the cable severances leading to speculation about potential sabotage operations. The Kremlin has refuted any claims of involvement in these incidents, condemning the actions taken against the Eagle S.
