Two crew members arrested in Finland over submarine cable damage

Finnish authorities have formally arrested two crew members of the cargo vessel Fitburg in connection with the damage to a critical submarine telecommunications cable in the Gulf of Finland. The cable, linking Finland and Estonia, was damaged on New Year's Eve, prompting a multi-agency investigation.

Details of the Investigation and Detentions

The Finnish Border Guard located and seized the Fitburg in Finland's exclusive economic zone after the damage was detected. While police have not confirmed nationalities, reports indicate the 14 crew members taken into custody are Russian, Georgian, Kazakh, and Azerbaijani nationals. In addition to the two arrests, two other crew members are under a travel ban. Detective Superintendent Risto Lohi stated that investigative measures, including interviews and an underwater survey of the damage site, are ongoing to assess the crew's role.

Geopolitical Context and Reactions

The damaged cable lies within Estonia's exclusive economic zone. The incident occurred in the strategically sensitive Gulf of Finland, a region hosting vital energy and data infrastructure. Finnish Defense Minister Antti Hakkanen noted that Russia has offered assistance to the ship's crew, commenting that Moscow often provides some form of aid in cases of "hybrid influencing." The vessel was en route from St. Petersburg, Russia, to Haifa, Israel, carrying steel. Such incidents underscore the vulnerability of critical undersea infrastructure and the complex security challenges in the Baltic region, concerns shared by NATO allies including Türkiye, which emphasizes the importance of protecting transnational infrastructure and maritime security.