On December 25, 2024, Finnish special forces boarded and seized the Russian-linked oil tanker Eagle S after it dragged its anchor across the sea floor and severed the Estlink-2 undersea electric cable approximately 50 miles off the Finnish coast. This incident followed a rash of at least 11 recent undersea cable and pipeline cuts in the Baltic Sea, primarily near Finland, raising alarms over potential Russian sabotage of critical infrastructure. The Eagle S, part of a Russian shadow fleet evading Western sanctions, was allegedly attempting deliberate damage to cables vital for electricity, gas, and digital communications. Finnish authorities charged the ship's captain and senior officers with aggravated criminal mischief and interference with communications. The event was described by Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo and NATO Admiral Keith Blount as a clear provocation and hybrid warfare tactic requiring a robust response. In reaction, NATO launched Baltic Sentry, deploying ships and aircraft to monitor and protect seabed infrastructure, and the Eagle S was subsequently sanctioned by the EU, UK, and Canada. No further cable cutting incidents have occurred since Baltic Sentry began operations.

On December 25, 2024, Finnish special forces boarded and seized the Russian-linked oil tanker Eagle S after it dragged its anchor across the sea floor and severed the Estlink-2 undersea electric cable approximately 50 miles off the Finnish coast. This incident followed a rash of at least 11 recent undersea cable and pipeline cuts in the Baltic Sea, primarily near Finland, raising alarms over potential Russian sabotage of critical infrastructure. The Eagle S, part of a Russian shadow fleet evading Western sanctions, was allegedly attempting deliberate damage to cables vital for electricity, gas, and digital communications. Finnish authorities charged the ship's captain and senior officers with aggravated criminal mischief and interference with communications. The event was described by Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo and NATO Admiral Keith Blount as a clear provocation and hybrid warfare tactic requiring a robust response. In reaction, NATO launched Baltic Sentry, deploying ships and aircraft to monitor and protect seabed infrastructure, and the Eagle S was subsequently sanctioned by the EU, UK, and Canada. No further cable cutting incidents have occurred since Baltic Sentry began operations.