PRIME MINISTER Petteri Orpo (NCP) has called for firmer measures to combat the risks associated with the so-called shadow fleet of Russia.
Orpo on Thursday revealed at a news conference that he has had discussions about the issue with his counterparts from Denmark, Estonia, Norway, Poland, Sweden and the European Commission. President Alexander Stubb, meanwhile, has been in contact with Nato.
“We’ve exchanged information about what has happened. The next step is for us to mull over the measures,” the prime minister was quoted saying to reporters by Helsingin Sanomat.
The press conference was organised after authorities had revealed that Eagle S, a Cook Island-flagged oil tanker that is believed to be part of the shadow fleet of Russia, is suspected of damaging an electricity transmission link between Finland and Estonia. The link was disconnected abruptly on Wednesday, 25 December, according to Fingrid.
Orpo added that no discussions have been had with Russia. He also declined to comment on whether the incident, which is being investigated as aggravated criminal damage, was a state-directed attempt to damage the energy infrastructure in Finland and Estonia.
“You can’t draw that kind of conclusions at this stage. But what you can say is that the shadow fleet, which caused also this problem, is sailing on Russia’s behalf,” he said.
“More measures are needed. [European Commissioner for Technological Sovereignty, Security and Democracy] Henna Virkkunen (NCP) has told that the commission has launched measures to not only stop the shadow fleet, but also to safeguard infrastructure located in international sea areas.”
Although the cable damage has not caused major disruptions to energy supply or data communications in Finland, the phenomenon is dangerous, reminded Orpo. The shadow fleet, he elaborated, is ultimately tasked with funding the war of aggression prosecuted in Ukraine by Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Orpo argued that the incident demonstrates the need to weigh up additional measures to safeguard critical infrastructure, be it by re-examining the role of Nato, the presence of Finland and general preparedness in the Baltic Sea. The Finnish government is already looking into the judicial foundation for increasing its activity and effectiveness in sea areas.
“What I can say about the discussions I’ve had with my foreign colleagues in the past 24 hours is that we all share the desire to solve this very difficult question. We can’t and won’t stand idly by,” he said.
In practice, however, it is impossible for national authorities to monitor activity along all the data and electricity cables running under the Baltic Sea. Orpo added that the fact that the location of submarine cables is public knowledge seems to be a miscalculation in the prevalent security environment.
“The lesson probably is that that period is behind us. We have to think whether someone can take advantage of our transparency in terms of all our activity,” he said.
Aleksi Teivainen – HT
