Authorities investigating damage to undersea telecom cable in Gulf of Finland

HELSINKI — Authorities are investigating damage to an undersea telecommunications cable in the Gulf of Finland early Wednesday that occurred between the capitals of Finland and Estonia.

Finnish authorities seized and inspected the vessel suspected to have caused the damage, the border guard said in a statement. Its anchor was lowered when it was discovered in Finland’s exclusive economic zone.

Helsinki police have opened an investigation into potential aggravated criminal damage, attempted aggravated criminal damage and aggravated interference with telecommunications.

The cable belongs to telecommunications service provider Elisa and is considered to be critical underwater infrastructure. The damage occurred in Estonia's exclusive economic zone, police said.

"Finland is prepared for security challenges of various kinds, and we respond to them as necessary," Finnish President Alexander Stubb wrote on social platform X.

Estonian authorities are cooperating with the Finns to decide whether they should initiate a separate criminal case or move forward in a joint prosecution.