The Baltic Sea has become a focal point of geopolitical tension following significant disruptions to electricity and telecommunications cables. The European Union has pointed the finger at Russia for these disruptions, with Finland specifically implicating a suspicious Russian vessel, the Eagle S. This vessel is alleged to have damaged the Estlink 2 electricity cable and several telecommunications lines between Finland and Estonia, leading to fears of power outages during the winter months.
As a response, Finland has seized the Eagle S, which belongs to the Russian "shadow fleet," a clandestine group of ships allegedly used by Russia to circumvent Western sanctions. The damage has prompted Finland and the EU to consider bolstering the protection of undersea cables and imposing sanctions on the shadow fleet.
In light of these events, NATO has increased its military presence in the Baltic region, a move requested by both Estonia and Finland. The alliance's involvement underscores the seriousness with which these incidents are being regarded, especially in the context of ongoing tensions between Russia and Western countries following the invasion of Ukraine.
Beyond local responses, the European Commission is preparing additional measures against what it sees as deliberate infrastructure sabotage by Russia. This is part of a broader strategy to tackle hybrid threats, a term used to describe a combination of military and non-military tactics, including cyber attacks and misinformation campaigns.
Estonia has already begun patrolling its waters to safeguard the remaining operational Estlink 1 cable. The region remains on high alert as nations collaborate to protect their critical infrastructure and deter further acts of sabotage.
