Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen has urged more decisive action against the Russian "shadow fleet" after another incident in the Baltic Sea in which an underwater cable was damaged, DPA reported, quoted by BTA.
"The main topic and problem for us is the so-called 'shadow fleet', regardless of the outcome of the investigation related to these damaged cables," Valtonen said during a visit to the Latvian capital Riga.
She stressed that measures must be taken to limit this fleet, adding that it is related to the identity of oil tankers and other cargo ships that Russia uses with unclear ownership to circumvent sanctions imposed after the invasion of Ukraine.
"This fleet also poses a threat to the environment and is a real danger to strategic underwater infrastructure," Valtonen said.
DPA recalls that the latest incident occurred at the end of last week, when an underwater cable connecting Sweden and Latvia was damaged. The cause remains unclear, and authorities in Stockholm are investigating suspicions of sabotage and have already detained a suspicious ship.
"It's about deterrence, rapid response and recovery," the Finnish minister added.