UPDATE - Finland seizes vessel over suspected damage to submarine cable

UPDATES WITH REMARKS FOREIGN MINISTER OF ESTONIA, PRIME MINISTER OF FINLAND

By Necva Tastan Sevinc

ISTANBUL (AA) - 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.

In a statement, police said the cable damage was detected earlier in the day and that 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, YLE news agency reported.

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 said 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.

“I’m concerned about the reported damage to the subsea cable between Estonia and Finland. Hopefully, it was not a deliberate act, but the investigation will clarify. The Estonian and Finnish authorities are working closely together to gather additional information,” Karis said.

Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna said Tallinn remains in close contact with Helsinki.

“Finnish and Estonian authorities are in close cooperation and actively exchanging information on the cable damage in the Gulf of Finland. Estonia’s connectivity is fully ensured through other cables, and all services continue without disruption,” Tsahkna said.

Police said they 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 occurred 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.