Poland stops suspected shadow ship: danger to Baltic Sea networks!

Poland stops suspected shadow ship: danger to Baltic Sea networks!

On May 21, 2025, the Polish military stopped a Russian ship from the so-called “shadow fleet” in the Baltic Sea. The ship conducted suspicious maneuvers near the vital power cable between Poland and Sweden, requiring immediate action. After the military intervened, the Russian ship withdrew to a port while a naval ship was deployed to the affected area. Defense Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz stressed the danger of the situation and said a patrol mission was needed to prevent such incidents. oe24 reports that With Sweden and Finland joining NATO, the Baltic Sea has become a key area for security policy incidents.

Polish authorities are concerned about the increasing threat posed by the Shadow Fleet, which allows Russia to evade sanctions through underground transport routes. These vessels are often involved in sabotaging activities that have resulted in a history, such as cable breaks. In this context, the sabotage of the Estlink 2 submarine cable between Finland and Estonia in December 2024 is also suspected. The oil tanker “Eagle S”, which sailed under the flag of the Cook Islands and came from St. Petersburg, played a central role here. Tagesschau reports that The tanker's anchor is suspected of having damaged the cable.

Strategic consequences for the Baltic Sea

In view of the developments, NATO is increasing its presence in the Baltic Sea. More ships are reportedly being deployed to secure critical infrastructure. These steps are considered necessary by experts to prevent further cascading effects from the destruction of infrastructure. Eastern European security strategies are moving to the center of the discussion, especially after the events since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. FR reports that The security situation in the Baltic Sea will be discussed in detail during a NATO summit in Helsinki.

Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock and other government figures are calling for more investment in the protection of critical infrastructure. Baerbock pointed to the need to defend European security against hybrid threats, which would require a clear political response to Russia's aggressive behavior. In addition, Federal Defense Minister Boris Pistorius warned of the ongoing hybrid attacks that are continually expected. Tagesschau reported also that the German Navy will increase its activities in the region in order to further expand its own presence and security.