Finnish authorities have completed their investigation into the damage of two undersea telecommunications cables in the Baltic Sea, which occurred in 2025. On June 5, the case was forwarded to prosecutors, who will determine whether to file charges.
The investigation identified four suspects, three of whom are currently prohibited from leaving Finland. The police have been looking into property damage and interference with telecommunications, considering aggravating circumstances and the attempted commission of a crime.
The cargo vessel Fitburg was detained on December 31 while en route from Russia to Israel, with suspicions that it may have been involved in the cable damage that connects Helsinki to Estonia via the Gulf of Finland.
Background on Maritime Infrastructure Attacks in Europe
On November 18, 2024, Finnish officials reported damage to an undersea telecommunications cable linking Finland and Germany, coinciding with the severing of another cable between Lithuania and Sweden. In early December, two additional cable breaks were recorded on the internet line between Sweden and Finland, occurring on land in Espoo and Vihti.
On December 25, the Finnish national grid operator Fingrid announced damage to the Estlink 2 undersea electricity cable, which connects Finland and Estonia. Furthermore, on February 21, 2025, the Swedish coast guard reported another cable damage incident connecting Finland and Germany, located near Gotland in Sweden’s economic zone in the Baltic Sea.
Finnish police have concluded their investigation into the damage of two undersea telecommunications cables, forwarding the case to prosecutors. Four individuals are implicated, with three facing travel restrictions, as authorities scrutinize potential criminal activity linked to maritime infrastructure incidents in the region.
Source: Reuters