The European Union has announced an enhancement of the protection for electrical and information cables in the Baltic Sea due to damage sustained, as well as further sanctions against Russia's "shadow fleet," one of whose vessels is suspected of having harmed the cables.
This joint statement regarding the investigation into the damage of electrical and information cables in the Baltic Sea, released on Thursday in Brussels, was made by the European Commission and the EU's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.
"Yesterday's incident involving underwater cables in the Baltic Sea is the latest in a series of alleged attacks on critical infrastructure. We commend the Finnish authorities for their swift actions in boarding the suspected vessel. We are collaborating with Finnish authorities on the ongoing investigation. We stand in full solidarity with Finland, Estonia, and Germany," the statement reads.
In this regard, the EU has strongly condemned "any intentional destruction of critical infrastructure in Europe."
"The suspected vessel is part of Russia's shadow fleet, which threatens security and the environment while simultaneously financing Russia's military budget. We will propose further measures, including sanctions, to impact this fleet. In response to these incidents, we are intensifying efforts to protect underwater cables, including enhanced information sharing, new detection technologies, as well as underwater repair capabilities and international cooperation. We remain committed to ensuring the resilience and security of our critical infrastructure," the EU stated.
The statement also noted that there is currently no risk to the security of electricity supply in the region.
On Wednesday, several media outlets reported damage to the Estlink 2 power cable, which connects Finland and Estonia across the Baltic Sea floor, and on Thursday, about damage to three underwater telecommunications cables between these countries. The Finnish police stated at a special press conference on Thursday that the oil tanker Eagle S, flagged in the Cook Islands, is suspected in this incident, and according to Finnish authorities, it is part of Russia's "shadow fleet." The Eagle S tanker has been detained and is currently in Finnish territorial waters, where authorities do not rule out the possibility of sabotage.