Sabotage Suspected as Baltic Sea Probe Reveals Long Drag Trail on Seafloor

A significant investigation has unfolded following the discovery of a sabotage operation in the Baltic Sea, which Finland's National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has linked to a long drag trail on the seabed. The Estlink 2 submarine power cable that facilitates electrical transmission from Finland to Estonia was forcibly disconnected on Christmas Day, resulting in a severe disruption, officials reported. This incident followed the severance of two telecommunications cables in Swedish waters just over a month earlier, creating a pattern that has alarmed Western security officials.

The center of the probe, the Eagle S oil tanker, flagged under the Cook Islands, emerged as a key piece in this maritime puzzle. The vessel, which had sailed from a Russian port, is suspected of being involved in these acts of deliberate sabotage. Finnish police were prompted to focus on this particular tanker after detailed analysis matched its route with the newly discovered dragging track, spanning dozens of kilometers along the Baltic Sea floor.

Detective Chief Inspector Sami Paila from the NBI highlighted the significance of the dragging track's discovery and noted its extensive length but mentioned that the exact origin point of the trail, where the anchor presumably detached, remains unidentified.

The disconnection of the Estlink 2 cable is among several infrastructural attacks that Western officials believe are connected to broader geopolitical tensions, notably Russia's military actions in Ukraine. The implications of these sabotages have catalyzed a swift international response. Mark Rutte, NATO's secretary-general, recently asserted that the US-led defense alliance would intensify its military presence in the Baltic Sea area as a countermeasure.

Further stirring concerns, Finnish customs authorities have raised suspicions regarding the true operational intent behind the Eagle S tanker. It is possibly a part of the so-called Russian "shadow fleet" — vessels engaged in transporting embargoed Russian crude and other oil products amidst ongoing sanctions against Russia due to its invasion of Ukraine.

Local law enforcement, including the Finnish customs and NBI, resumed rigorous investigations on Sunday after a brief hiatus due to adverse weather conditions. These activities include questioning the crew of the Eagle S, which is currently docked in Porvoo, a coastal town to the east of Helsinki.

As the investigation continues, the discovery of the lengthy drag trail not only underscores the vulnerability of undersea infrastructure but also intensifies the existing geopolitical strife in the Baltic region, prompting calls for heightened vigilance and reinforced security protocols among nations reliant on such critical infrastructure.