Mysterious Tanker Seized in Finnish Waters Amid Cable Sabotage Investigation

In a dramatic turn in Finland, police have seized a tanker believed to be linked to recent sabotage incidents affecting vital undersea communications infrastructure.

Finland's national police boarded an oil tanker in its waters, suspecting the vessel's involvement in the recent severing of essential undersea cables. The Cook Islands-registered tanker was intercepted on its journey from St. Petersburg, Russia, to Port Said, Egypt. Investigators are scrutinizing the ship's potential connection to the Estlink 2 submarine cable, which transmits electricity between Finland and Estonia, as well as four other cables that experienced damage. Authorities labeled these acts as "aggravated vandalism."

The vessel is speculated to belong to Russia’s elusive shadow fleet, established to navigate around Western price limits imposed on Russian oil exports post the Ukraine invasion in February 2022. Meanwhile, Kazakhstan still grapples with the investigation concerning a passenger plane crash this week, with theories ranging from a possible Russian air defense incident to bird strikes.

As tensions rise over cable security and oil transport, the focus remains on potential geopolitical ramifications and the broader implications for European infrastructure safety.