““We are in the process of investigating, so at this stage I will not be able to link this incident to any government agency or any other party.””, — write: www.radiosvoboda.org
On December 25, the Estlink 2 power cable connecting Estonia and Finland malfunctioned in the Baltic Sea, after which Finland detained the Cook Islands-flagged oil tanker Eagle S.
“We are in the process of an investigation, so at this stage I will not be able to connect this incident to any government agency or any other party,” Elina Valtonen said.
According to her, Finnish investigators are investigating this case, which also involved partners “on the other side of the Baltic Sea.”
“This infrastructure, by definition, never concerns only one country: cables, electric cables, gas pipelines connect different countries, and we all feel their influence. Some of these cables pass between Finland and Germany, some between Estonia and Sweden,” explained the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Finland.
Valtonen also added that all the damage to critical infrastructure and attacks experienced by Europe in recent months and years demonstrate that countries “are in the same boat as victims of aggression by an exile state or several exile states.” But, according to the minister, EU countries are working on containment.
“Together we are not only showing resilience, we are working on deterrence, but especially on a very quick recovery to show that no one can interfere in our affairs in such a hostile way, if in this case there is some intent behind it,” Elina said. Valtonen.
Read also: Finland and Sweden report the discovery of an anchor that could damage the cable in the Baltic Sea
When asked by journalists whether the Ukrainian side was offered to join the investigation of the incident in the Baltic Sea, Andriy Sybiga answered that Ukraine does not need to be offered, because it is automatically ready to help in all such cases.
“Our experience clearly shows that Russia only understands force, so there should be a clear punishment if it is objectively proven as a result of the investigation that a ship is involved in damaging strategic infrastructure on the bottom of the Baltic Sea and, accordingly, there should be consequences to prevent similar cases in the future. That is why the investigation is fast, severe sanctions in case of proof of guilt. And I am convinced that not only Ukraine is ready to help, but this is the interest of the entire European community, of all the Baltic countries around the Baltic Sea, so that the truth is established and the guilty are brought to justice,” Andrii Sybiga said.
The day before, it became known about the discovery of an anchor that could damage underwater cables at the bottom of the Baltic Sea.
Finland detained the Cook Islands-flagged Eagle S oil tanker after the Estlink 2 power cable, which connects Estonia and Finland, malfunctioned in the Baltic Sea on December 25. Finnish border guards escorted the vessel to the coast of Porkkala.
The tanker is linked to Russia’s so-called shadow fleet, which is used to transport Russian oil to circumvent international sanctions.
The shadow fleet consists of a number of old, uninsured oil vessels that are used to circumvent Western sanctions against Russia and maintain a source of income for the Kremlin. The ships carry Russian crude oil and petroleum products, which were banned after Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.