The Swedish Navy has successfully recovered the anchor of a tanker believed to be part of Russia's "shadow fleet," implicated in a series of damaging incidents involving underwater cables in the Baltic Sea. This operation is part of an ongoing investigation regarding damages to four telecom cables and one power cable on December 25, a situation that has heightened security concerns in the region (The Local, SCMP).

The Swedish submarine rescue vessel HMS Belos located and lifted the anchor, subsequently handing it over to Finnish authorities, as confirmed by spokesperson Jimmie Adamsson. The vessel Eagle S, which flies the Cook Islands flag, has been identified as the suspected culprit responsible for damaging the EstLink 2 electricity cable connecting Finland and Estonia, leaving it unusable (The Local).

On December 29, Finnish police revealed they had traced the anchor's path across the seabed, extending for several kilometers. The national energy agency Fingrid has urged authorities to seize the tanker, while Finnish customs have restricted eight crew members from departing the area amid suspicions that the vessel plays a role in transporting Russian oil, now subject to international embargoes due to the conflict in Ukraine.

As of this week, reports indicate that while two of the damaged telecom cables have been repaired, the EstLink 2 cable remains inoperative. However, another telecom cable linking Finland and Germany is expected to be operational by January 10 (SCMP).

In response to similar incidents since Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine, NATO has declared efforts to bolster its military presence within the Baltic region, emphasizing the ongoing concerns regarding energy and communications infrastructure as critical targets in what is commonly referred to as Russia's "hybrid war" against Western nations.

The Baltic Sea continues to be a focal point for geopolitical tensions, compounded by previous incidents including those linked to a Chinese-flagged bulk carrier suspected of involvement in earlier cable disruptions.