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Finland seizes cargo ship after undersea cable damage in Gulf of Finland
Finnish authorities have detained a cargo ship following damage to two telecommunications cables linking Helsinki and Tallinn in the Gulf of Finland, the latest in a string of suspected sabotage incidents targeting critical Baltic Sea infrastructure.
The Finnish Border Guard intercepted the vessel Fitburg after telecom provider Elisa detected a fault in one of its undersea cables early Wednesday. The ship, which departed St. Petersburg on December 30 bound for Israel, was navigating with its anchor chain deployed in Finland's exclusive economic zone. The actual cable damage occurred in Estonia's economic zone.
President Alexander Stubb affirmed on social media that Finland stands ready to address a range of security challenges and will respond as required. Prime Minister Petteri Orpo noted that state agencies are collaborating to assess the cause and scope of the damage.
Flying the flag of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, the Fitburg was ordered to raise its anchor and proceed to Finnish territorial waters, where it remains under state control. Helsinki police are investigating potential charges of aggravated criminal damage, attempted aggravated damage, and aggravated interference with telecommunications, working alongside Finnish defense forces, customs, and Estonian authorities.
This episode echoes a similar event over last Christmas, when the tanker Eagle S allegedly dragged its anchor across the seabed, severing the Estlink 2 power cable and several telecom lines between Finland and Estonia. That vessel, also detained by Finnish officials, was linked to Russia's shadow fleet of aging tankers evading Western sanctions.
Since late 2022, at least ten undersea cables in the Baltic Sea have been severed, with seven incidents between November 2024 and January 2025. Western officials suspect coordinated sabotage, though Russia denies involvement.
In response to escalating threats, NATO launched its Baltic Sentry mission in January 2025, deploying frigates, maritime patrol aircraft, and naval drones to safeguard regional undersea infrastructure. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte highlighted that over 95 percent of internet traffic depends on such cables.
Elisa reported no service disruptions in Finland or Estonia thanks to network redundancy, with traffic rerouted through alternative cables. Harsh weather has delayed physical repair efforts.
