Jan 05, 2026 17:28:00

Undersea cable connecting Finland and Estonia damaged, Finland seizes ship with crew from four countries, including Russia

An undersea cable connecting Finland and Estonia was damaged on December 31, 2025 local time. Finnish police have seized a vessel suspected of being involved in damaging the cable and are continuing their investigation.

Police Investigate Cable Damage in the Gulf of Finland in Cooperation with Other Authorities - Police

https://poliisi.fi/en/-/police-investigate-cable-damage-in-the-gulf-of-finland-in-cooperation-with-other-authorities

Cargo Vessel Fitburg has been moved to a Safe Place - Police
https://poliisi.fi/en/-/cargo-vessel-fitburg-moved-to-a-safe-place

Maritime Investigations in the Gulf of Finland Continue - Police
https://poliisi.fi/en/-/merelliset-tutkimukset-suomenlahdella-jatkuvat-2

On December 31, 2025, local time, Finnish internet service provider Elisa detected an anomaly in the undersea cable connecting Helsinki and Tallinn, prompting the Finnish police to launch an investigation.

The cable damage occurred in Estonian exclusive economic zone, but the coast guard spotted the suspicious vessel in Finnish exclusive economic zone. As the vessel had dropped its anchor, the coast guard requested that it raise its anchor and move to a safe anchorage in Finnish territorial waters. After the vessel was seized, command of the investigation was transferred from the coast guard to the Helsinki police.

Border Guard and Finnish Defence Force helicopters were subsequently dispatched to the scene, and the Helsinki Police's rapid response unit, Karhu, and Border Guard troops descended from the helicopter onto the deck to conduct an investigation. The vessel was a cargo ship named Fitburg, registered in

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines , with 14 crew members on board. The crew members were reportedly from four countries: Russia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, and Azerbaijan. The Helsinki District Court has ordered the crew members to be detained in pretrial detention until January 4, 2026.

Finnish police, in cooperation with Estonian authorities, are continuing their investigation into the damaged submarine cable, and on January 4, 2025, reported that 'undersea surveys have revealed drag marks consistent with the path of a suspicious vessel. It is believed that the Fitburg sailed with its anchor down and dragged it for several tens of kilometers, damaging the submarine cable.'