Finland's national grid operator, Fingrid, has requested a Helsinki court to seize the Eagle S oil tanker over suspected damage to the Estlink 2 electricity interconnector. The undersea cable, linking Finland and Estonia, was severed on December 25 along with four telecom lines. Finnish authorities suspect the Eagle S, which carries Russian oil, caused the damage by dragging its anchor.
The Baltic region has been on high alert following a series of disruptions to power, telecom, and gas infrastructure since Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine. NATO recently announced plans to boost its presence in the area.
Fingrid stated that further investigation at the damage site would determine the full extent of the impact and aid in planning repairs. The company expects the cable to be operational again by August.
Meanwhile, Finland's customs service has impounded the cargo, suspecting the Eagle S is part of a shadow fleet evading Russian oil sanctions. However, the cargo remains on board.
