Russian ‘Shadow Fleet’ Tanker Suspected of Baltic Cable Sabotage Released by Finland

A Russian-linked oil tanker suspected of sabotaging undersea cables in the Baltic Sea has been released from Finnish waters after being held since December, Finnish police announced on Sunday.

The Eagle S, registered in the Cook Islands, is believed to be part of Russia’s so-called shadow fleet — a network of vessels used to bypass Western sanctions on Russian oil exports. Finnish authorities suspect the tanker deliberately dragged its anchor along the Baltic seabed on December 25, damaging four telecommunications cables and an electrical cable.

The Swedish navy later recovered the anchor in January, strengthening suspicions of intentional sabotage.

Despite the ongoing criminal investigation, police said there were no longer grounds to continue detaining the vessel after forensic inspections. However, eight crew members remain under suspicion, with three still barred from leaving Finland. The investigation is expected to conclude by the end of April.

Security experts warn that the suspected attack could be part of a wider “hybrid war” strategy by Russia, targeting critical infrastructure across Europe. The incident follows a string of undersea cable disruptions in the Baltic region last year.

Both Finland and Sweden joined NATO in response to Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, prompting the alliance to ramp up surveillance in the Baltic Sea. Finnish coast guards will escort the Eagle S to international waters as it departs.