HELSINKI (AP)
Finnish authorities have taken into custody two crew members from a cargo ship after damage was found on an undersea communications cable in the Gulf of Finland, which lies between Helsinki and Tallinn. This news was confirmed by police on Thursday.
The cable, owned by Finnish telecommunications company Elisa, was damaged earlier this week within Estonia’s exclusive economic zone. It’s a critical piece of underwater infrastructure.
The Helsinki Police have initiated an investigation focusing on serious charges, including aggravated criminal damage and interference with communications.
On Thursday, the police also mentioned that travel restrictions have been placed on two additional crew members amid the ongoing probe.
Details about the crew’s rank or nationality have not been disclosed by police.
The vessel involved, called Fitberg, is registered in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and was en route from Russia to Israel. Among its 14 crew members were individuals from Russia, Georgia, Azerbaijan, and Kazakhstan, all of whom have been detained by Finnish officials.
Earlier this week, Finnish National Police Chief Ilka Koskimäki noted that the ship had been dragging its anchor for several hours when located in Finland’s exclusive economic zone. He mentioned that there haven’t been any speculations regarding potential state involvement in this incident.
Additionally, Finnish customs reported the discovery of structural steel in a shipment arriving from Russia, which is currently under European Union sanctions.
“The importation of these sanctioned goods into the EU is prohibited under EU sanctions regulations,” the customs statement read. “We will continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding this and the potential relevance of EU sanctions law.”
Undersea cables and pipelines are crucial parts of one of Europe’s busiest maritime routes, connecting Northern and Central Europe, while enhancing trade and security of energy supplies. They also aim to lessen dependence on Russian energy sources.
Last year, Finnish authorities charged the captain and two senior officers of a Russian-affiliated vessel, the Eagle S, with damage to an undersea cable connecting Finland and Estonia on Christmas Day 2024.
In August, Finland’s Deputy Attorney General stated that charges of serious criminal mischief and interference with communications had been brought against the captain, first mate, and second mate of the oil tanker. While their identities remain confidential, they have denied all accusations.
However, a Finnish court dismissed the charges last October, ruling that the damaged cable was outside of Finnish territorial waters.
The Kremlin has previously refuted any claims of involvement in damaging infrastructure that serves essential communications and power to thousands of Europeans.
The Eagle S was documented as registered in the Cook Islands but labeled by Finnish customs and the EU Executive Committee as part of Russia’s clandestine fuel tanker fleet. These older vessels, often with unclear ownership, were acquired during the Ukraine war to bypass Western sanctions and operate without proper insurance.
To many in the West, these incidents contribute to a larger narrative of sabotage across Europe linked to Moscow’s actions since its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
