Poland stops alleged shadow ship: Danger for Baltic Sea networks!

Poland stops alleged shadow ship: Danger for Baltic Sea networks!

Ostsee, Polen - The Polish military stopped a Russian ship of the so -called "shadow fleet" in the Baltic Sea on May 21, 2025. The ship carried out suspicious maneuvers near the important power cable between Poland and Sweden, which made immediate measures necessary. After the military intervened, the Russian ship retired to a port while a naval ship was sent to the affected area. Defense Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz emphasized the danger of the situation and explained that patrol mission was necessary to prevent such incidents. OE24 reports that with the NATO joining of Sweden and Finland has become a key area for security policy incidents.

The Polish authorities are concerned about the increasing threat from the shadow fleet, which enables Russia to avoid sanctions through underground transport routes. These ships are often involved in sabotaging activities that have already led in the past, such as cable breaks. In this context, the sabotage of the Untersekabel Estlink 2 between Finland and Estonia from 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. that the tanker's anchor is believed to have damaged the cable.

strategic consequences for the Baltic Sea

Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock and other government personalities are calling for more investments in the protection of critical infrastructures. Baerbock pointed out the need to defend European security against hybrid threats, which must significantly increase a clear political reaction to Russia's aggressive behavior. In addition, Federal Defense Minister Boris Pistorius warned of the ongoing hybrid attacks that are continuously expected. Tagesschau also reported that the German marine will strengthen its activities in order to further expand its own presence and security.