• Polish military intervenes against a suspicious Russian ship near an undersea cable.
• The "shadow fleet" is used by Russia to circumvent international sanctions.
• Officials investigate potential explosive devices in the area.
• NATO has increased security measures in the Baltic Sea region.
• The incident highlights rising concerns over regional stability and infrastructure security.

Poland's military took decisive action after a ship from Russia's "shadow fleet" was spotted performing suspicious maneuvers near an undersea power cable linking Poland with Sweden. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk confirmed that after military intervention, the vessel retreated to a Russian port, further emphasizing the rising concerns over Russian activities in the Baltic region, especially following several incidents of sabotage against infrastructure, including power cables and pipelines, since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, according to Newsweek, Channel News Asia, and Reuters.

In response to the situation, Polish officials, including Defence Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz, indicated that a patrol flight successfully deterred the Russian vessel. The ship in question was identified as the tanker "Sun," operating under the Antigua flag. The effective intervention of the Polish Navy's ORP Heweliusz, alongside heightened NATO security measures in the Baltic, underscores the region's vulnerability to potential sabotage, according to Channel News Asia and Reuters.

Following the incident, Prime Minister Tusk stated that Polish authorities are investigating whether any explosive devices were placed in the vicinity of the cable. As part of the precautionary measures, the ORP Heweliusz continues to monitor the area for potential threats. Tusk expressed satisfaction with the military's discreet yet effective response, aiming to prevent any damage to the crucial power infrastructure, as confirmed by Reuters.

The 600-megawatt undersea cable plays a pivotal role in linking the power grids of Sweden and Poland, allowing for effective electricity trades during periods of different pricing. Tusk emphasized that the current geopolitical environment necessitates vigilance, given the Baltic Sea's history of incidents related to sabotage and cable damage, reinforcing NATO's commitment to regional security, according to Reuters and Channel News Asia.