Germany has called for tougher European Union sanctions against Russia following the suspected sabotage of an undersea power cable connecting Finland and Estonia.
The Estlink 2 cable, which is critical for carrying electricity between the two countries, was severed on Wednesday, raising concerns throughout Europe about the vulnerability of critical infrastructure, according to the Moscow Times.
“Almost every month, ships damage major undersea cables in the Baltic Sea,” German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock told the Funke media group on Saturday.
Baerbock cited several incidents in which vessels dragging anchors along the seafloor damaged the cable, raising suspicions of deliberate interference.
“It is extremely difficult to believe in coincidences. This is an urgent wake-up call for everyone,” Baerbock said, emphasizing the need for new sanctions against Russia’s “shadow fleet.”
The term “shadow fleet” refers to vessels that transport Russian crude oil and other products despite EU embargoes imposed in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Baerbock cautioned that these ships pose significant security and environmental risks while funding Moscow’s war effort.
Finnish authorities are looking into the Russian-flagged oil tanker Eagle S, which sailed from a Russian port, as part of their investigation into the cable disruption. The incident occurred following the severance of two telecommunications cables in Swedish waters in October.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte announced on Friday that the military presence in the Baltic Sea would be increased to deter further acts of sabotage.