Finland warns Russia may plan new sabotage of Baltic undersea cables
The detention of the Fitburg vessel, suspected of damaging an undersea cable in the Gulf of Finland, on Dec. 31, 2025. (Photo: Finnish Police/Handout via REUTERS)
Russia continues to pose a threat to critical undersea
infrastructure in the Baltic Sea, Finland’s military intelligence service
warned, according to a Reuters
report published on Jan. 22.
In an interview with the outlet, Maj. Gen. Pekka Turunen,
head of Finnish military intelligence, said Russia “clearly has the capability
to destroy underwater infrastructure if it wants to.” Still, he noted,
investigators have found no “compelling evidence” proving that “Russia or
another state actor” was behind recent incidents.
Turunen acknowledged, however, that the number of such
incidents in the Baltic has risen significantly since 2023.
Russia has denied any involvement and claimed its naval
exercises last year were aimed at defending against potential undersea
sabotage.
Finland’s Defense Ministry also reported an uptick in
suspicious security-related activity on land involving military personnel and
exercises. According to Turunen, these incidents included “drones and some
individuals” near military facilities and training sites, though he declined to
elaborate.
On Dec. 31, an undersea telecommunications cable between
Finland and Estonia was discovered damaged in the Baltic Sea. Finnish border
guards detained the cargo ship Fitburg, which was suspected of being involved.
Estonia also reported damage to four communications cables
linking it with other countries, as well as to a separate cable connecting the
island of Hiiumaa to the mainland.
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