Helsinki: Finnish authorities have taken control of a vessel suspected of damaging a submarine telecommunications cable operated by Elisa, a telecommunications and digital services company, between Helsinki and Tallinn, police said Wednesday.
According to Anadolu Agency, police reported that the cable damage was detected earlier in the day, and the Finnish Border Guard located a vessel whose actions are suspected to be linked to the incident. Finnish authorities subsequently seized the ship in a joint operation, as reported by the YLE news agency. The suspected vessel was encountered by the Border Guard's patrol ship Turva, supported by a helicopter, in Finland's exclusive economic zone (EEZ). The reported location of the cable damage itself lies in Estonia's EEZ, according to information provided by Elisa.
Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo stated that he had spoken with his Estonian counterpart about the incident. 'I spoke with my Estonian colleague Kristen Michal about the cable damage in the Gulf of Finland. Our authorities are working in good co-operation,' Orpo said on US social media company X. Estonian President Alar Karis also expressed concern over the incident, hoping it was not a deliberate act and emphasizing the close cooperation between Estonian and Finnish authorities.
Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna assured that Tallinn remains in close contact with Helsinki. He noted that Finnish and Estonian authorities are actively exchanging information on the cable damage in the Gulf of Finland, and Estonia's connectivity remains fully ensured through other cables, with all services continuing without disruption.
Police are investigating the incident on suspicion of aggravated damage, attempted aggravated damage, and aggravated interference with telecommunications. Authorities have also been in contact with the Office of the Prosecutor General, which has issued the relevant authorizations for the investigation. The incident took place in the Gulf of Finland, a strategically important maritime area hosting several critical energy and data connections linking Nordic and Baltic states. It also comes as Nordic countries have remained on alert in recent years following several disruptions to telecommunications infrastructure, raising concerns over the resilience of energy and communication links.