The European Union has once again warned against Russia’s “ghost fleet” and has pledged to take tougher measures following suspicions of sabotage to an underwater cable between Finland and Estonia.
The EU plans to “take stronger measures to counter the risks posed by these vessels,” said Kaja Kallas, the Foreign Policy Chief, in an interview published in a German newspaper on Monday. The “ghost fleet” refers to vessels transporting embargoed Russian crude oil and petroleum products.
Kallas said that “The Russian ‘ghost fleet’ threatens the environment and funds Russia’s war budget.” She added that the ships are suspected of engaging in acts of sabotage.
Following the rupture of an underwater electric cable in the Baltic Sea, Finnish investigators have discovered kilometres of tracks on the seabed. Suspicion has fallen on the oil tanker Eagle S, which allegedly dragged its anchor for kilometres, damaging the cable. The ship sails under the Cook Islands flag but is believed by the EU to belong to Russia’s so-called ghost fleet used to bypass Western sanctions.
The Eagle S was immobilised after the breaking of the Estlink 2 underwater electric cable between Finland and Estonia on 25 December. Additional issues have been identified with several communication cables in the Baltic Sea in recent weeks.
Related News
- Tensions rise over cable sabotage - EU threatens sanctions against Russian 'ghost fleet'
- Rise of 'ghost tankers' represents 'a new threat', insurer warns
- Russia is a 'permanent threat' to the EU, says Finnish PM
Kallas, the former Prime Minister of Estonia, stated that acts of sabotage in Europe have increased since Russia invaded Ukraine in early 2022. “The recent sabotage attempts in the Baltic Sea are not isolated incidents; they form a deliberate pattern aimed at damaging our digital and energy infrastructure.”
The Eagle S tanker is suspected of dragging its anchor along the seabed, potentially damaging the cable. Finnish authorities are carrying out technical inspections on board and questioning the crew. However, the investigations are still in their early stages and have been hampered by bad weather. The exact location where the anchor might have been dropped remains unknown.
