A preliminary investigation into “a serious regulatory offence” has been launched and the cargo will be detained, Rakshit added.
The European Commission described the incident as “the latest in a series of suspected attacks on critical infrastructure.
“The suspected vessel is part of Russia’s shadow fleet, which threatens security and the environment, while funding Russia’s war budget. We will propose further measures, including sanctions, to target this fleet,” the Commission said.
Robin Lardot, head of the Finnish National Criminal Police, said a criminal report has been filed for aggravated vandalism, and that authorities will need to thoroughly investigate the seabed.
According to the police, the investigation is still in its early stages. A prosecutor has been appointed to the case.
Lloyd’s List, a British publication that analyzes maritime traffic, has categorized Eagle S as part of Russia’s shadow fleet.