Poland intervenes as Russian ‘shadow fleet’ ship spotted near power cable

https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/poland-says-russian-ship-performed-suspicious-manoeuvres-near-cable-sweden-2025-05-21/

26 comments

  1. For those unable to read the article due to a paywall:

    WARSAW, May 21 (Reuters) – Poland’s military intervened after a ship from the Russian “shadow fleet” was seen performing suspicious manoeuvres near a power cable connecting Poland with Sweden, Poland’s prime minister said on Wednesday.

    NATO has stepped up security in the Baltic following a string of incidents in which power cables, telecom links and gas pipelines were damaged in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

    “A Russian ship from the ‘shadow fleet’ covered by sanctions performed suspicious maneuvers near the power cable connecting Poland with Sweden,” Prime Minister Donald Tusk wrote on X. “After the effective intervention of our military, the ship sailed to one of the Russian ports.”

    “Shadow fleet” refers to vessels used by Russia to ship oil, arms and grains in violation of international sanctions imposed after the Ukraine invasion.

    Speaking later to reporters, Polish Defence Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz said a patrol flight scared the ship off and said the Polish Navy’s ORP Heweliusz was sailing to the scene.

    Vice Admiral Krzysztof Jaworski, Poland’s maritime component commander, told Reuters that the tanker in question was called Sun and it sailed under the Antigua flag.

    The Russian embassy in Warsaw declined to comment. In the past, Moscow has denied involvement in undersea sabotage in the Baltic, saying the West was using such claims to curb Russia’s sea-borne oil exports.

    The 600-megawatt undersea cable links the Swedish coast near Karlshamn with Ustka in northern Poland and allows both grids to rely on cross-border supplies when electricity is cheaper in the other system.

    A spokesperson for Polish grid operator PSE said the cable was working. PSE data showed over 600 megawatts were flowing to Sweden through the cable at 1130 GMT.

    “This shows how dangerous the times we live in are, how serious the situation in the Baltic Sea is,” Kosiniak-Kamysz told a news conference.

    “Since Sweden and Finland joined the North Atlantic Alliance, the Baltic Sea has become a key marine area, where the largest number of incidents occur, the most common incidents related to cable breaks… and sabotage.”

    He vowed a “firm response” from Poland and NATO to any attack on Baltic Sea infrastructure.

    Stockholm, asked about the incident, said Swedish authorities were ready to respond to developments in the vicinity.

    “We are in contact with the authorities and our allies regarding developments affecting the security situation,” Swedish Defence Minister Pal Jonson said in an emailed comment.

  3. At some point reprisal in the form of violence towards these accidental tankers will need to happen.

    For now full seizures and guidelines for what boats can do around critical infrastructure can do regardless of international waters should be made.

  5. Before any more comments about sinking the ships, I just want to point out that having even just the fuel of these ships in the baltic sea would be pretty bad. Also, most of these are shipping oil so it would be an actual catastrophy for the surrounding countries.

  6. Finally …. Someone actually doing something and displaying courage against a pariah in the world. F’ you russia. Bravo to Poland! 🇵🇱

  7. What will it take euros to just blockade the gulf and Kaliningrad?

  8. They really just need to sink these damn ships. If they are going to play stupid games, let them enjoy the prizes.

  9. What is the purpose of the United Nations and NATO to allow Russia to do what they do. Time for all Nations to step up

  10. Every time we let Russia get away with unchecked aggression, we’re letting them know it’s okay. What Russia needs is a punch in the face.

  11. Since last week, every marine action must be supported by fighter jets. Time to show that we have the cards.

  12. Poland is just itching to go after Russia. Wish the rest of NATO had their courage. Boots on the ground and a show of force would put down Putin’s ill trained, rag tag military lead by corrupt and inept generals

  13. When will Europe realize that these attacks on their infrastructure by the Russians is an act of war? Russia will continue doing this until a proportional response is carried out. At the very least they need to sink these vessels if they are destroying cables.

    A better option would be a full on naval blockade of Kaliningrad and have troops and artillery on the border ready to strike immediately if Russia continues to escalate.

    Russia does not have the resources to fight another war.

  14. Question. Is these ships are under sanctions and sail under flags of exotic countries, then what is the downside of seizing them if they are in territorial waters of any country that would be harmed if these ships succeed in their acts of war?

  17. Russia is a terrorist organization and needs to be treated as such

  19. Ever trust a Russian or Trump. They’re both dirty as hell.

  23. Just sink these fuckers and say “whoa, that was so weird how that suspicious ship just sank without us Poles doing anything”. It’s not like the Russians don’t pull the same shit so shove it right back in their faces.

  25. fucking annoying ass little kids wanting to ruin everyone else’s lives because they’re selfish

  26. Accidents at sea happen all the time……ships sink, crews go down…..just saying

Comments are closed.