Finnish Authorities Seize Ship Over Suspected Telecom Cable Damage

Finnish authorities seized the cargo ship Fitburg for allegedly damaging a Helsinki–Tallinn telecom cable. The 14-member crew was detained, and police are investigating aggravated criminal damage. Finland and Estonia are cooperating amid concerns over suspected Russian sabotage of regional infrastructure.

Finnish authorities on Wednesday took decisive action by seizing a cargo vessel suspected of causing damage to an undersea telecommunications cable that connects Helsinki, Finland, with Tallinn, Estonia. The vessel, named Fitburg, was observed with its anchor lowered near the location within Estonia’s exclusive economic zone where telecom provider Elisa had detected a fault early in the morning on Wednesday.
In response, a Finnish border guard vessel, supported by a helicopter, tracked down the Fitburg, issued orders for it to stop, raise its anchor, and move into Finnish territorial waters. This swift intervention highlights Finland’s readiness to address potential security threats. President Alexander Stubb emphasized the country’s preparedness on X, stating, “Finland is prepared for security challenges of various kinds, and we respond to them as necessary.”
The Finnish police have launched an investigation into the incident, treating it as a case involving “aggravated criminal damage, attempted aggravated criminal damage, and aggravated interference with telecommunications.” These charges underscore the seriousness with which authorities are treating the potential sabotage of critical communication infrastructure.
The Fitburg, registered under the flag of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, had reportedly departed from St Petersburg in Russia and was en route to Haifa, Israel, according to MarineTraffic tracking data. The vessel had a total of 14 crewmembers on board, all of whom have been taken into custody by the police for questioning.
Officials in Estonia have also been actively involved in the response. Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna confirmed that Finnish and Estonian authorities are maintaining “close cooperation and actively exchanging information” regarding the incident, reflecting the strong cross-border collaboration between the two nations in addressing threats to shared infrastructure.
This event occurs against a backdrop of ongoing security concerns in the region. Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, there have been multiple disruptions affecting power cables, telecommunications links, and gas pipelines that connect Nordic, Baltic, and other European countries. Experts and political leaders have interpreted these disruptions, including suspected cable sabotage, as elements of a broader “hybrid war” strategy by Russia aimed at destabilizing Western nations.
In response to these threats, NATO has increased its naval presence and patrols in the Baltic Sea earlier this year to safeguard critical undersea infrastructure. The seizure of the Fitburg underscores the continuing vigilance of Finland, Estonia, and NATO allies in protecting vital communications networks and maintaining regional security amid ongoing geopolitical tensions.