The Finnish Coast Guard released this photo of the suspicious vessel.image: x
December 31, 2025, 1:38 p.mDecember 31, 2025, 1:55 p.m
The Finnish Coast Guard has detained a suspicious vessel after a submarine communications cable was damaged in the Baltic Sea. It was initially unclear what kind of ship it was.
As police in Finland said, the telecommunications provider Elisa reported damage to a cable that connects the Finnish capital Helsinki with Estonia’s capital Tallinn early this morning.
Anchor chain was lowered into the water
The coast guard then identified a ship in the Finnish economic zone that is suspected of having previously caused the damage in the Estonian zone. “The ship’s anchor chain was lowered into the water,” the statement said. Finnish authorities took the ship under control after it was guided to a safe anchorage in Finnish waters.
The police are now investigating serious damage to property, attempted serious damage to property and serious disruption to telecommunications traffic.
Finland’s President Alexander Stubb said on the short message service X that Finnish authorities had searched a ship that was suspected of causing cable damage in the Gulf of Finland. The situation is being monitored in close coordination with the government. “Finland is prepared for security challenges of various kinds and we will respond accordingly,” said Stubb.
Russian shadow fleet is suspected to be behind similar incidents
Russian shadow fleet is suspected to be behind similar incidents
The incident is reminiscent of similar events over a year ago. On Christmas Day 2024, damage occurred to the Estlink 2 undersea power cable running between Finland and Estonia and several communication cables. The Finnish authorities assume that the damage was caused by the anchor chain of the tanker “Eagle S”, which is part of the Russian shadow fleet.
Charges have now been brought against the captain and two other crew members. Russia’s shadow fleet refers to tankers and other cargo ships that Russia uses to evade sanctions imposed on the country as a result of its war of aggression against Ukraine. (sda/dpa)