On Christmas Day, the Estlink 2 undersea power cable, which links Finland and Estonia, unexpectedly shut down at around 12:26 pm local time (10:26 am GMT). Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo confirmed that while the outage had no immediate effect on the country’s power supply, it did significantly reduce the capacity for electricity exchange between the two nations. The cable’s capacity, which normally supports 1,106 megawatts, dropped to only 358 megawatts following the disruption.
The incident raises alarms, particularly as it follows a series of suspected sabotage acts targeting undersea internet cables linking Finland and Sweden to mainland Europe, highlighting growing concerns over the security of critical infrastructure in the region.
When the disruption occurred, Finnish national grid operator Fingrid confirmed that 658 megawatts of power were still being transmitted from Finland to Estonia. Although Estonia’s energy operator, Elering, acknowledged the issue, it emphasized that the country’s power supply remained unaffected by the reduced capacity.
Suspicion of Sabotage Leads to Vessel Seizure
A day after the power outage, Finnish authorities took significant action, seizing a Russian oil tanker suspected of being involved in the damage. The ship, Eagle S, registered in the Cook Islands, was boarded by Finnish Coast Guard personnel while operating in the Baltic Sea. Authorities believe the vessel’s anchor may have caused the damage to Estlink 2, as well as to multiple undersea internet cables.
Robin Lardot, the director of Finland’s National Bureau of Investigation, confirmed that the incident is being treated as a case of possible sabotage. The Eagle S is believed to belong to Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet,” a group of older tankers used to evade sanctions on Russian oil exports. Finnish customs also confiscated the vessel’s cargo during the investigation.
Damage to Vital Undersea Infrastructure
Estlink 2, located between Helsinki and Tallinn, is one of two key undersea cables connecting Finland and Estonia. It operates alongside the smaller Estlink 1, which has a 350-megawatt capacity. Estlink 2, which had been undergoing maintenance earlier this year, was restored to full service in September.
The damage to the cable has raised questions about the potential for external interference. Fingrid’s Arto Pahkin noted that sabotage could not be ruled out, adding that the investigation is ongoing.
In addition to the power cable, Finnish authorities reported damage to several undersea fiber-optic cables. Two of these cables, owned by Finnish telecom operator Elisa, were severed, while a third, owned by China’s Citic, was also impacted. A fourth cable connecting Finland to Germany, operated by Finnish company Cinia, was also reported to be damaged.
Heightened Security Measures and NATO Concerns
Both the Finnish and Estonian governments convened emergency meetings to address the incident. Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo reassured the public that authorities were continuing to monitor the situation and investigate the cause of the damage.
The Baltic Sea, bordered by NATO countries, is a crucial region for communication, data transfer, and energy trade. Undersea cables in the area are vital for NATO’s operations, and their security is a significant concern for member states. Despite being marked on maritime charts to avoid accidents, the cables are still vulnerable to damage, whether intentional or accidental.
Rising Geopolitical Tensions
The timing of the disruption is particularly concerning given the heightened geopolitical tensions between Russia and Western nations due to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. With direct access to the Baltic Sea, Russia has the potential to target the region’s infrastructure, raising alarms over the security of NATO’s communications and energy networks.
Earlier this year, Finland and Sweden also experienced suspected sabotage to undersea internet cables, further exacerbating concerns over the vulnerability of critical infrastructure in the region. As NATO relies heavily on these cables for secure communications, any disruption could have serious implications for the alliance’s operations.
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