Estonia navy to protect undersea power link after main cable damaged

Estonia has decided to enhance the security of its undersea power cable after it suffered damage recently. The patrol boat Raju has been deployed to safeguard the Estlink 1 power cable, which is crucial for the energy connection between Estonia and Finland. This action comes in the wake of accusations against Russia for potentially sabotaging the Estlink 2 cable in the Gulf of Finland. A vessel known as Eagle S is under suspicion for this incident, and the Finnish coast guard has intervened by boarding the oil tanker and guiding it into Finnish waters. The European Union has labeled the Eagle S as part of what they refer to as 'Russia's shadow fleet,' indicating that it is involved in activities that could pose a threat to regional security. Estonian Defence Minister Hanno Pevkur announced that the Raju set sail early on Friday, and he expressed optimism that Finland would join the efforts to protect the remaining cable. He emphasized the importance of the Raju's mission, stating that it is 'to ensure that nothing happens there and that our critical connection with Finland remains operational. ' Meanwhile, the Kremlin has refrained from commenting on the cable damage, dismissing it as a 'very narrow issue' that does not warrant attention from the Russian presidency. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte took to social media to share that he had a conversation with Finland's president, Alexander Stubb, regarding the situation. NATO has issued a statement affirming that they remain vigilant and are prepared to provide additional support if necessary. Both Finland and Estonia are members of NATO, a military alliance that promotes collective defense among its members. Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal addressed the public, stating that if the situation escalates, they may invoke Article 4 of the NATO Treaty, which allows for consultations when a member state feels threatened. He expressed a desire for NATO to send reinforcements in the form of a naval fleet to deter any potential aggression. The damage to Estonia's power supply has been significant, as the Estlink 2 cable, which spans 170 kilometers, has been taken offline. According to an initial assessment by Finland's Fingrid company, repairs to the cable could extend until the end of July 2025. This incident marks the third occurrence of cable damage in the Baltic Sea within a short period. Just last month, two data cables were severed: the Arelion cable connecting the Swedish island of Gotland to Lithuania and the C-Lion 1 cable linking Helsinki, Finland, to Rostock, Germany. A Chinese vessel, the Yi Peng 3, is suspected of having dragged its anchor over these cables, contributing to the damage. Additionally, in October 2023, another Chinese ship ruptured an undersea gas pipeline between Finland and Estonia. Both the Yi Peng 3 and Eagle S are believed to be part of a shadow fleet of oil tankers that Russia is utilizing to circumvent Western sanctions imposed following the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The Yi Peng 3 recently departed from the Kattegat strait after being anchored for several weeks. The European Union is actively working on measures, including sanctions, aimed at targeting this shadow fleet, which poses risks to both security and the environment. After a period of anchoring, the Chinese tanker was boarded by authorities from Sweden, Denmark, Germany, and Finland but subsequently set sail again. In contrast, Finnish authorities successfully boarded the Eagle S early on Thursday and escorted it toward the Finnish coast off Porkkala, located across the Gulf of Finland from Tallinn. Markku Hassinen, the deputy head of the Finnish Border Guard, reported that their patrol vessel was able to visually confirm that the ship's anchor was missing. The Estonian prime minister sought to reassure the citizens of Estonia on Thursday, stating that they would continue to have secure power supplies. He highlighted that the two main power companies, Elering and Eesti Energia, have various backup power plants available. However, he also acknowledged the challenge of protecting every square meter of the seabed at all times, emphasizing the need for vigilance and preparedness in the face of potential threats.