Helsinki (AP) – Finnish authorities have brought charges against senior officers tied to Russian-related containers with damaged submarine cables last year, between Finland and Estonia, for criminal activities linked to the wreckage.
They allege that the oil tanker, Eagle S, dragged its anchor and caused damage to the Estlink-2 power cable and communications link between Finland and Estonia on December 25th. The Kremlin has previously denied any involvement in the damaging of the infrastructure that supplies power and communication to thousands of Europeans.
The Eagle S is registered in the Cook Islands but has been identified by Finnish customs officials and the Executive Committee of the European Union as part of the Russian Shadow Fleet of Fuel Tankers. These are older vessels with obscure ownership aimed at evading Western sanctions amid the War in Ukraine and operate without Western-regulated insurance.
The employment of Russian vessels has raised environmental concerns regarding the incident, given their age and questionable insurance coverage.
For the West, this incident serves as a test of resolve against what seems to be a wide array of sabotage attacks in Europe, which are reportedly connected to Moscow following the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
The Eagle S is carrying 35,000 tons of oil, and investigators assert it left a track with its anchor of about 100 kilometers (62 miles) on the seabed before it halted and was escorted near the Finnish port.
The names of the senior officers involved, including the master, chief mate, and second officer, have not been disclosed, according to Finnish police in a statement released on Friday. This trio is responsible for the safe passage, voyage, and operation of the tanker, and they are suspected of severe criminal negligence and interference with telecommunications.
“The criminal investigation has evaluated several factors, including the extent of the vessel’s responsibility for the situation and whether the anchor’s descent should have been closely monitored,” said Detective Secretary Sami Limatinen, who leads the case at the National Bureau of Investigation.
The findings from the investigation have been shared with Finnish prosecutors for potential charges.
Damage to Estlink-2, which meets around half of Estonia’s electricity requirements in winter, has driven energy prices up in the Baltic states, though it did not disrupt services.
This cable is approximately 90 miles (145 km) long and lies at a depth of 90 meters (295 feet), crossing one of Europe’s busiest shipping lanes.
Submarine cables and pipelines traverse the ocean, linking Scandinavian, Baltic, and Central European countries, thereby enhancing trade, energy security, and in some instances, reducing reliance on Russian energy resources.
Source: apnews.com