In brief
The release of the Eagle S comes as Finland bolsters security following multiple incidents of undersea sabotage, raising concerns about potential threats from Russia's shadow fleet.
The Finnish authorities announced on Sunday that they had permitted the departure of the oil tanker Eagle S, which was seized in December amid suspicions of its involvement in the deliberate cutting of vital undersea cables. This development comes two months after the ship was detained, with the police confirming that the investigation into the incident will persist. The Eagle S is reportedly associated with Russia's "shadow fleet", a term used to describe older tankers that covertly transport Russian crude oil, leading to fears of a systematic effort to damage European infrastructure. While this aging vessel has now been released from custody, Finnish police stressed that their criminal investigation is still underway, with the primer, Petteri Orpo, affirming that the inquiry will proceed.Police reports indicated that several crew members face serious allegations, including aggravated criminal mischief and interference with communications. Out of the eight crew members initially detained, five were allowed to depart last week, while the remaining three are still restricted from leaving Finland. Authorities aim to wrap up the investigation by the end of April.The incident involving the Eagle S occurred against a backdrop of heightened security concerns after a spate of similar cable-cutting incidents in the region. In January, Swedish authorities also intercepted a vessel tied to another undersea sabotage, leading NATO to bolster maritime security measures. The cutting of these cables last December sparked fears of potential threats from Russian operations in European waters, further complicating the already tense geopolitical climate.Registered in the Cook Islands, the Eagle S was en route from St. Petersburg, Russia, to Port Said, Egypt, when it was seized. Throughout these investigations, the Kremlin has denied any involvement in sabotage actions while condemning the seizure of the vessel, further complicating East-West relations amid ongoing geopolitical tensions.
