Gulf of Finland cable damage shows signs linked to earlier incidents
Photo: Damage to an underwater cable in the Gulf of Finland is similar to previous incidents (Getty Images)
Finnish police have launched an investigation into damage to an underwater telecommunications cable running through the Gulf of Finland. Law enforcement officials do not rule out that the incident may be similar to previous cases, according to Finnish public broadcaster Yle.
The police have already managed to talk to the crew of the cargo ship Fitburg, which is suspected of being involved in damaging the cable. Investigative actions were carried out on board, and crew members were interviewed.
Law enforcement agencies are currently assessing the circumstances of the incident and the possible role of the ship's crew. According to the police, the crew is cooperating with the investigation, which is helping to clarify the situation.
The Fitburg sails under the flag of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. The crew includes citizens of Russia, Georgia, Azerbaijan, and Kazakhstan.
The police note that the investigation is in its early stages. No comment has been made yet on whether the incident could be linked to state influence.
The investigation is currently looking into possible offences, including aggravated obstruction of telecommunications, aggravated damage to property, and attempted aggravated damage.
Damage to Elisa's telecommunications cable was discovered early Wednesday morning. The day before, Finnish authorities detained the ship Fitburg, which is currently in the port of Kantvik in Kirkkonummi.
Over the past year, there have been several incidents of cable breaks in the Gulf of Finland involving foreign vessels. The police note that a common feature of these cases is the involvement of cargo ships sailing from Russia, as well as the characteristic position of the anchor. At the same time, each incident is considered separately, taking into account all the circumstances.
Cable damage in Gulf of Finland
On December 31, telecommunications company Elisa reported damage to the cable connection between Finland and Estonia in the Gulf of Finland. A ship in the area was suspected in connection with the incident.
At the time of the incident, the detained cargo ship Fitburg was sailing from the Russian port of St. Petersburg to Israel.
Investigators found that the 14 crew members of the ship were from Russia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, and Azerbaijan, and they were detained by law enforcement.
According to Finnish President Alexander Stubb, the Finnish authorities took control of the ship and conducted an inspection.
Interestingly, a similar incident involving damage to underwater communication cables between Finland and Estonia occurred a year ago. Specifically, on December 25, 2024, Finland reported damage to an underwater power cable connecting it to Estonia in the Gulf of Finland.
