Finnish Court Upholds Seizure of Russian Oil Tanker Suspected of Damaging Baltic Infrastructure

A Finnish court has refused to release an oil tanker, Eagle S, suspected of damaging undersea infrastructure. Finland seized the vessel after it allegedly harmed a power line and telecom cables. The case highlights regional tensions since Russia's Ukraine invasion, with NATO increasing its Baltic presence.

A Finnish court has dismissed the request to release a seized oil tanker, Eagle S, suspected of causing damage to crucial infrastructure in the Baltic Sea. Authorities allege that the tanker damaged an undersea power line and telecom cables while anchored.

The Baltic region remains tense with frequent outages since Russia's 2022 Ukraine invasion. NATO has responded by bolstering its military presence. Despite legal attempts by Caravella LLC FZ, the Emirates-based owner, the vessel remains impounded, and investigations are ongoing.

Finnish police are keeping the crew of the Eagle S under scrutiny, suspecting the tanker is part of a 'shadow fleet' circumventing sanctions on Russian oil. Discussions on the legality of the seizure and the cargo's ownership continue as legal and diplomatic tensions rise.

(With inputs from agencies.)