Charges have been brought in the case concerning the cutting of submarine cables in the Gulf of Finland during Christmas 2024

The Deputy Prosecutor General has brought charges of aggravated criminal mischief and aggravated interference with communications against the captain and first and second officers of the Cook Islands-registered tanker Eagle S. The charges also include alternative indictments.

The Eagle S, which left Russia's Ust-Luga with a cargo of oil products, is suspected of cutting five submarine cables in the Gulf of Finland by dragging its anchor on the seabed for about 90 km. In addition to the consequences of preventing the use of the cables in Finland, the owners of the cables have suffered a total of at least 60 million euros in immediate damage in the form of repair costs alone. The disruption of electricity transmission and telecommunications cables with very high transmission capacity is also suspected to have caused a serious risk to energy supply and telecommunications in Finland, although services could be secured by using alternative connections.

In the preliminary investigation, the defendants have denied that they committed the offences. They also consider that Finland lacks jurisdiction in the case, as the locations of the cable damages are outside Finnish territorial waters.

The application for a summons has been submitted to the Helsinki District Court, which will determine the date for the hearing of the case and, if necessary, resolve the issue of Finnish jurisdiction (prosecution case number R 25/65, District Court case number R 706/2025/12270). The trial materials will be made public at the beginning of the hearing, unless the District Court decides otherwise.

A state prosecutor, a senior special prosecutor and a district prosecutor have been appointed to prosecute the case.

For more information, please contact Deputy Prosecutor General Jukka Rappe, jukka.rappe(at)oikeus.fi, phone + 358 50 543 1182.