On December 25, 2024, the Estlink 2 undersea cable connecting Finland and Estonia suffered damage believed to be deliberate sabotage. Finnish authorities suspect the anchor of the tanker 'Eagle S', registered under the Cook Islands flag and linked to the Russian shadow fleet circumventing EU oil embargoes, caused the damage. The tanker was detained in Finnish waters and moved near the Kilpilahti port to facilitate investigation. German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock publicly warned of the threat posed by the aging Russian shadow fleet, emphasizing the security risks and environmental dangers it represents amidst Russia's ongoing war in Ukraine. She called for increased protection of critical infrastructure and enhanced NATO and EU cooperation to counter hybrid threats in the Baltic Sea. Baerbock also noted that over 50 vessels had been sanctioned as part of efforts to target these shadow fleet activities. Konstantin von Notz, deputy chairman of the German Green parliamentary faction, urged the German government to explicitly acknowledge and classify Russian hybrid attacks and provocations. The incident highlights escalating hybrid warfare tactics targeting digital and energy infrastructure in the Baltic region.

On December 25, 2024, the Estlink 2 undersea cable connecting Finland and Estonia suffered damage believed to be deliberate sabotage. Finnish authorities suspect the anchor of the tanker 'Eagle S', registered under the Cook Islands flag and linked to the Russian shadow fleet circumventing EU oil embargoes, caused the damage. The tanker was detained in Finnish waters and moved near the Kilpilahti port to facilitate investigation. German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock publicly warned of the threat posed by the aging Russian shadow fleet, emphasizing the security risks and environmental dangers it represents amidst Russia's ongoing war in Ukraine. She called for increased protection of critical infrastructure and enhanced NATO and EU cooperation to counter hybrid threats in the Baltic Sea. Baerbock also noted that over 50 vessels had been sanctioned as part of efforts to target these shadow fleet activities. Konstantin von Notz, deputy chairman of the German Green parliamentary faction, urged the German government to explicitly acknowledge and classify Russian hybrid attacks and provocations. The incident highlights escalating hybrid warfare tactics targeting digital and energy infrastructure in the Baltic region.