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NATO Warships Confront Russian Vessel After Suspicious Breakdown Over Baltic Gas Pipeline
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![Photo of Ivan Khomenko]( "Photo of Ivan Khomenko")
NATO naval forces conducted a special operation in the Øresund Strait after a Russian fishing vessel experienced a sudden breakdown in Swedish waters and anchored near a key undersea gas pipeline, according to Postimees on September 15.
The vessel involved, the “Mechanik Stepanov,” is a newly built 50-meter-long crab boat commissioned in 2025. The incident occurred on September 13, when the ship reported engine trouble and a power outage, causing it to drift toward Danish waters.
According to Postimees, Sweden’s Coast Guard deployed a vessel to shadow the Russian ship, while naval assets from Denmark and the United Kingdom joined the operation.
The Danish Navy confirmed to broadcaster TV2 that its warships, together with British vessels, were positioned near the Mechanik Stepanov but declined to provide additional details about the mission.
The Russian vessel reportedly requested entry into a Swedish port but was denied. After remaining anchored overnight, it resumed its journey northward on September 14 under continued Swedish surveillance.
The location of the breakdown drew particular attention due to its proximity to critical energy infrastructure. The Øresund Strait, a strategic maritime route between Denmark and Sweden, hosts pipelines and cables that form part of Europe’s energy and communications network.
This is not the first time Russian vessels in the Baltic Sea have raised security concerns. In December 2024, Finnish authorities detained the tanker “Eagle S” following damage to an undersea communication cable.
Investigators discovered equipment onboard that could potentially be used for surveillance of aircraft and naval movements, according to Finnish officials.
