Finland Concludes Investigation into Baltic Sea Cable Damage

Finnish police have concluded their investigation into damage to two undersea telecommunications cables in the Baltic Sea last year, with prosecutors now set to decide whether to bring charges against four suspects.

The investigation covered suspected aggravated criminal damage, attempted aggravated criminal damage and aggravated interference with telecommunications. Three of the four suspects remain subject to a travel ban.

On 31 December, Finnish authorities detained the cargo ship Fitburg bound from Russia to Israel. The vessel was suspected of damaging cables running from Helsinki through the Gulf of Finland to Estonia.

The Baltic Sea region has been on heightened alert since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, following a series of incidents involving power cables, telecommunications links and gas pipelines. In response, NATO has bolstered its presence in the region by deploying frigates, aircraft and naval drones.

(reuters, bak)