Finnish investigators found a sign of an anchor dragging in the Baltic Sea following cable damage

HELSINKI, Finland (AP) – Finnish investigators investigating damage to a Baltic Sea power cable and several data cables say they have found a sign of an anchor being pulled into the sea, apparently from a Russian-linked ship that has already been detained for investigation.

The Estlink-2 power cable, which transmits power from Finland to Estonia across the Baltic Sea, went down on Dec. 25 after an apparent breakout. It had little impact on services but followed earlier damage to two data cables and the Nord Stream gas pipeline, both of which were called vandalism.

Finland's chief police investigator, Sami Paila, said on Sunday afternoon that the trail stretched “several kilometers (miles) … if not nearly 100 kilometers (62 miles).”

“What we understand right now is that the tow mark in question is the anchor of the Khozi S ship. We have been able to clarify this issue through underwater research,” Paila told Finnish national TV broadcaster Yle.

“I can say that we have the first understanding of what happened at sea, how the anchor sign was created there,” Paila said, without giving more details. He reiterated that “the question of intent is a very important issue that must be clarified in the preliminary investigation, and will be clarified as the investigation continues.”

On Saturday, the ship was escorted to an inland area near the Port of Porvoo, to facilitate investigations, officials said. It is being investigated under criminal charges of malicious interference with communications, vandalism and criminal mischief.

The vessel was flagged in the Cook Islands but was described by Finnish customs officials and the European Union's high commission as part of a large number of Russian oil tankers. Those are old ships with unclear ownership, acquired to evade Western sanctions on Russia during the war in Ukraine and operating without Western-controlled insurance.

Russia's use of the ships has raised environmental concerns about accidents given their age and lack of insurance.

After the breakdown, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said last week that the military alliance, which Finland joined last year, will strengthen patrols in the Baltic Sea region.

Finland, which shares a 1,340-kilometer (832-mile) border with Russia, abandoned its decades-old neutrality policy and joined NATO in 2023, amid Russia's war with Ukraine.