The European Commission and EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs condemned the deliberate destruction of electricity and data cables in the Baltic Sea, in a joint statement issued on Friday. Kaja Kallas, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs, described this incident as part of a disturbing trend of attacks on infrastructure linked to Russia’s “shadow fleet” of aging vessels involved in circumventing Western sanctions.
Kallas also warned that these ships pose security risks and contribute to financing Russia’s military operations. The Estonian government has responded by initiating a naval operation to protect other undersea cables, and has convened emergency meetings to address the situation.
The joint statement comes after Finnish authorities detained a vessel linked to Russia, suspected of damaging the Estlink 2 undersea power cable that connects Finland and Estonia. This incident, which occurred on December 25, has raised alarms across Europe regarding potential hybrid warfare tactics targeting critical infrastructure in the Baltic Sea. The ship, identified as the Eagle S, was intercepted within Finnish territorial waters and is believed to have caused the cable damage by dragging its anchor along the seabed.
The disruption to the Estlink 2 cable, which spans approximately 170 kilometers and plays a crucial role in electricity transmission between the two nations, coincided with reported power outages in Finland. In addition, four telecommunications cables experienced disruptions, further complicating communication networks in the region. Finnish officials have launched a criminal investigation into the incident. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has also pledged to support the investigation and and enhance NATO’s military presence in the Baltic Sea in his X (formerly Twitter).
Essential to support the daily lives of civilians, civilian infrastructure is protected by international humanitarian law. Under the principle of distinction, civilian infrastructure, including electricity plants, must not be attacked.
This incident is not isolated, and it follows a series of similar occurrences in the Baltic Sea since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Previous incidents include damage to gas pipelines and other undersea cables, prompting heightened vigilance among Baltic states regarding their critical infrastructure. The pattern suggests a systemic threat rather than random sabotage, leading officials to call for enhanced monitoring and protective measures against potential future attacks.
