AFP reported that an oil tanker believed to belong to the Russian "shadow fleet" and suspected of sabotage the Baltic Sea underwater cable system has been allowed to leave the Finnish waters after months of detention, Finnish police announced on March 2.
The Eagle S, registered in the Cook Islands, is suspected of being deliberately towed for dozens of kilometers along the Baltic Sea floor on December 25, 2024, damaging one power cable and four telecommunication cables.
"After conducting a criminal investigation, including a forensic examination on the Eagle S, we have no reason to continue to detain the ship," the police said.
The Finnish coastguard will escort the Eagle S to international waters.
The Swedish Navy found the anchor in January.
Finnish police suspect that eight crew members of the ship were involved in the incident, three of whom were still banned from leaving Finland.
The investigation continues and is expected to be completed by the end of April.
Security analysts say Russia is operating a "shadow fleet" of hundreds of ships to evade Western sanctions on Russian oil exports due to the conflict in Ukraine.
Last year, many underwater cables under the Baltic Sea were damaged, causing some experts to believe that this was part of a "hybrid war" waged by Russia against Western countries - something Russia strongly denied.
Both Sweden and Finland have joined NATO after Russia launched a military campaign in Ukraine in 2022, and the military alliance has recently increased supervision in the Baltic Sea.
The sabotage of underground cables in the Baltic Sea has raised concerns about the security of Europe's critical infrastructure. Damaged telecommunication cables can seriously affect military and civil communications, especially in the context of rising geopolitical tensions.
In addition to the Eagle S incident, authorities are investigating other similar attacks in the area. NATO has deployed additional surveillance vehicles, including unmanned subspeeds and underwater sensing systems to monitor unusual activities.
Experts say that if there is verified evidence of Russia's involvement in these sabotage incidents, the EU and NATO could consider applying additional sanctions against Moscow, while strengthening the defense of the marine infrastructure system in Europe.
Meanwhile, Russia has denied any allegations of sabotage of the underground cable and criticized the West for "militarizing" the Baltic Sea by deploying more forces after Finland and Sweden joined NATO.
