BREAKING NEWS: Finnish authorities have detained the crew of a cargo ship following the severing of an undersea internet cable in the Gulf of Finland early on New Year’s Eve. The incident occurred just before 5:00 a.m. on January 1, 2024, prompting an urgent response from the Finnish coastguard.
Technicians at Elisa, a prominent Finnish telecom company, quickly detected a major fault in the cable linking Helsinki to Estonia. While Elisa managed to reroute data, the underlying cause of this disruption is raising serious questions about potential sabotage.
A tense standoff unfolded at sea when the coastguard dispatched a helicopter and the patrol vessel Turva to investigate. They discovered the cargo ship Fitburg, measuring 132 meters, anchored directly over the cable site. Sailing from St. Petersburg to Israel, the ship was ordered to halt and was escorted to the Port of Kantvik for further investigation.
Authorities have detained all 14 crew members aboard the Fitburg. Among them, two individuals—a Russian and an Azerbaijani national—have been formally arrested, while two others face travel bans. Police Chief Ilkka Koskimäki stated that an investigation into “aggravated sabotage” is underway, although he refrained from assigning blame to any country at this stage.
Estonia’s Ministry of Justice and Digital Affairs confirmed that, despite the disruption, the nation’s internet connections remain secure, thanks to alternative sea and land cables. However, Elisa has reported limitations in certain cable rental services and is actively communicating with affected customers.
The situation escalated when customs officers boarded the Fitburg, uncovering illegal cargo: sanctioned Russian steel, which violates current EU trade regulations. This unexpected discovery complicates the legal circumstances surrounding the vessel.
In a shocking twist, a second cable owned by Arelion also suffered a break on the same day, intensifying scrutiny over the incident. Finnish MP Jarno Limnell warned that these undersea cables represent a new “front line” in national security, suggesting potential hybrid warfare tactics targeting critical infrastructure.
Finnish President Alexander Stubb has reassured citizens that the nation is equipped to address these security challenges. As this developing story unfolds, investigators are employing underwater robots to examine the seabed, seeking clarity on whether the anchor was dropped accidentally or if there was a deliberate intention to disrupt the region’s connectivity.
This is a rapidly evolving situation, and further updates will be provided as more information becomes available. Share this story to keep others informed about these critical developments.
