Captain Claims Anchor Mishap Was Accidental Amid Baltic Cable Sabotage Allegations

The captain of an oil tanker allegedly linked to Russia’s covert fleet denied on Friday that he intentionally caused damage to Baltic Sea cables by dragging an anchor in what is suspected to be an act of sabotage.

Captain Davit Vadacthkoria, a citizen of Georgia, along with two senior officers from the Cook Islands-registered tanker Eagle S, are accused of pulling the vessel’s anchor along the seabed for approximately 90 kilometers (56 miles), resulting in damage to five underwater cables in the Gulf of Finland on December 25, 2024.

During their testimony at the Helsinki District Court this week, they faced charges of «aggravated criminal mischief and aggravated interference with communications.»

Prosecutors allege that the crew willfully neglected their responsibilities, whereas the defense maintains that the incident was unintentional.

Vadacthkoria stated in court on Friday that the crew had observed no signs suggesting that the anchor had been released from the ship.

«There was no reason to believe it was not secure,» he commented.

He also mentioned that safety inspections conducted prior to departing from the Russian port of Ust-Luga on December 25 showed nothing «critical.»

«I am truly sorry,» Vadacthkoria added, emphasizing his accountability. «As the captain, I want you to know that I am acknowledging my responsibilities. I came here to present the truth.»

Last year, multiple undersea cables in the Baltic region were damaged, which many experts attribute to a «hybrid war» being waged by Russia against Western nations.

Moscow is accused of utilizing its secretive «shadow fleet» to circumvent sanctions imposed by Western countries following its invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

The defense noted that on the day the cables were severed, the ship was required to halt and reduce its speed due to a main engine malfunction in challenging weather conditions.

The defendants stated that Finnish authorities reached out to the Eagle S on the day of the incident to inquire about the status of the ship’s anchors, to which the crew replied that they were secured.

«If a vessel pulls an anchor behind it for several hours over 90 kilometers, is it really plausible that no one would notice?» prosecutor Mikko Larkia questioned the court at the beginning of the hearings.

The prosecution intends to pursue prison sentences of a minimum of two and a half years.