Finnish Police Seize Vessel Suspected of Damaging Underwater Cable in Gulf of Finland
Finnish police have seized a ship suspected of damaging an underwater telecommunications cable between Helsinki and Tallinn. The interception occurred after a Finnish coastguard vessel located the suspect ship in the Gulf of Finland with its anchor lowered. Authorities ordered the vessel to move and anchor within Finnish territorial waters.
The damaged cable belongs to Elisa, a Helsinki-based telecoms group, and is situated in Estonia’s exclusive economic zone. Elisa detected a fault early on Wednesday and promptly reported it to the authorities. Finnish police are treating the incident as aggravated criminal damage and aggravated interference with telecommunications. Investigations involve both national and international authorities, including Estonia.
This incident comes amid repeated damage to energy and communications infrastructure in the Baltic region, with some experts linking these events to broader geopolitical tensions involving Russia and China. The risk of attacks targeting undersea cables is perceived as rising. Alexander Stubb, commenting on X, noted that Finland is prepared for security challenges, and the case is part of broader discussions about the nation's security posture. The identity of the suspect vessel has not been disclosed.
