Finnish Police Concludes Investigation into Undersea Cable Damage, Identifies Tanker Crew as Suspects

The Finnish police announced on Friday that they have completed their investigation into an oil tanker believed to have caused damage to multiple undersea cables in the Baltic Sea, officially naming three crew members as criminal suspects.

The Eagle S, flagged in the Cook Islands and thought to be affiliated with Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet,” reportedly dragged its anchor for several kilometers along the seabed, resulting in the damage of one electrical cable and four telecommunications cables on December 25.

The ship’s anchor was subsequently retrieved by the Swedish navy in January.

According to a statement from Finland’s National Bureau of Investigation, “Based on the evidence gathered from the vessel, the seabed inspections, and the interviews with the crew, senior officers aboard the Eagle S are believed to be implicated in aggravated criminal mischief and significant interference with telecommunications.”

The individuals under suspicion include the captain, chief mate, and second mate of the vessel.

Detective Chief Inspector Sami Liimatainen commented, “The investigation has considered and evaluated, among other factors, the level of responsibility of the officers for the vessel’s condition and how much they should have monitored the anchor’s descent into the water.”

The case will now be referred to prosecutors, who will determine whether to pursue criminal charges.

Numerous cables in the Baltic Sea were damaged in incidents last year, which some analysts suspect may be part of a Russian “hybrid war” against Western infrastructure.

In response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, both Sweden and Finland joined NATO, prompting the alliance to enhance surveillance efforts in the Baltic region.