RIGHT NOW: Eagle S packed with spy equipment

 

Finland

Sources: Eagle S was packed with spy equipment

Emil Forsberg

Updated 21.54 | Published 17.22

Finnish police have seized the Russian shadow ship Eagle S.

The ship was “packed with spy equipment”, according to Lloyd’s List.

The coast guard vessel Turva ordered the tanker Eagle S into Finnish waters after suspicions that it had damaged the Estlink 2 power cable.

Hours later, two helicopters carrying police officers from the Karhu task force, also known as the Bear Group, took off and descended on the ship.

Fuel has now been seized and traces secured.

According to the British magazine Lloyd’s List, the ship had been transformed into a “spy ship”.

Sources tell the newspaper that the Eagle S was loaded with eavesdropping equipment to intercept NATO sea and air traffic and that the devices required so much power that they caused a power outage on board.

– Investigative measures have been taken on the ship and, among other things, material has been collected, the analysis of which has begun. The investigation has also focused on interviewing the crew. Although the initial preliminary investigation was fast-paced, it is an investigation that is all in all challenging and time-consuming, says Inspector Sami Paila, who is leading the investigation.

Here the bear group is winding down on the Eagle S. Photo: Rajavartiolaitos - Finnish Border Guard / Lehtikuva 

Photo: AP

The crew consists of 20 people from Georgia and India, and some of them are suspected of crimes, reports Iltalehti.

– The crew has been cooperative, even though the situation has been confusing for them, says Paila.

The police have not yet decided whether to arrest them, as it could affect the operation of the ship.

– Ships must have a certain crew. If we remove the crew, we will potentially cause problems.

The ship is suspected of belonging to the Russian shadow fleet, which defies sanctions to transport Russian oil across the seas.

On Friday, Sweden announced that it is strengthening its presence in the Baltic Sea. Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson also stated that he had spoken to Finnish President Alexander Stubb and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte after the cable breaks.

“Sweden stands ready to help. It is good that NATO is strengthening its military presence in the Baltic Sea. After recent incidents with ships suspected of having damaged and cut submarine cables, we need to strengthen the security of our Nordic and Baltic countries. The Swedish Coast Guard is also now strengthening its maritime surveillance to contribute to this work,” he writes on X.

            

           The coast guard vessel Turva, next to Eagle S. Photo: A

Estonia

Estonian military patrols to protect Estlink 1

Linnea Blomberg

Updated 11.47 | Published 08.13

The ship Raju is participating in the operation. Photo: Michał Derela/Wikipedia

Estonia has launched an operation to protect Estlink 1.

The ship Raju will patrol the Baltic Sea.

Now the country's defense minister is appealing to other NATO countries to participate in the operation.

Early on Friday morning, the Estonian Defense Forces launched an operation in the Baltic Sea.

Estonian television channel ERR reports that they have set sail with the naval patrol ship "Raju" to protect the Estlink 1 submarine cable.

Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna. Photo: Mindaugas Kulbis / AP

This all comes two days after the Estlink 2 power cable between Estonia and Finland was damaged in a suspected sabotage.

“If there is a threat to critical underwater infrastructure in our region, there will be a response,” Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna wrote in a statement.

The defense minister has also asked other NATO countries to come to the rescue with their own ships.