Finnish Police Seize Ship Suspected of Sabotaging Helsinki-Tallinn Cable

In a dramatic New Year's Eve operation, Finnish authorities seized a cargo vessel suspected of deliberately damaging a vital telecommunications cable connecting Helsinki and Tallinn across the tense Gulf of Finland. This latest incident fuels growing fears of hybrid warfare targeting critical Baltic Sea infrastructure.

Source: Unsplash

Finnish police announced on December 31, 2025, that they had taken control of the cargo ship Fitburg (flagged to Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, which departed from Saint Petersburg the previous day) after it was found dragging its anchor in the sea near the damaged area. The ship is strongly suspected of being responsible for the damage to the undersea cable owned by Finnish telecom giant Elisa, located in Estonia's exclusive economic zone.

The fault was detected early Wednesday morning, prompting Elisa to immediately alert Finnish authorities. A border guard patrol vessel and helicopter quickly located the suspect ship in Finland's exclusive economic zone. Officers ordered the vessel to stop, raise its anchor, and move to anchor in Finnish territorial waters, where it remains under state control.

Police are investigating the case as aggravated criminal damage, attempted aggravated criminal damage, and aggravated interference with telecommunications. Authorities are cooperating closely with Estonian counterparts and other international partners amid heightened concerns over Baltic Sea security.

Latest update (Dec 31, 2025): Multiple reports confirm the vessel as the Fitburg, and Estonia's authorities revealed that a second cable (operated by Swedish provider Arelion) was also damaged in the same area on the same day. Initial evidence suggests the ship is not directly linked to Russia's infamous shadow fleet, but suspicions of hybrid aggression remain high.

Source: Reuters – Dec 31, 2025 & Helsinki Times

The Gulf of Finland — bordered by Estonia, Finland, and Russia — has become a hotspot for suspicious incidents targeting energy and communications infrastructure since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Many experts and leaders view these repeated cable and pipeline damages as part of a broader "hybrid war" strategy against Western countries.

Finnish President Alexander Stubb reacted swiftly, posting on X: “Finland is prepared for security challenges of various kinds, and we respond to them as necessary.” His statement underscores Finland's firm stance on protecting critical underwater infrastructure in these volatile waters.

Original report based on AFP wire + latest updates from Reuters, The Guardian, Helsinki Times and other sources (December 31, 2025).