US EditionFinnish police release Russia-linked ship held in cable sabotage case
The Fitburg, carrying steel products under Western sanctions, was released after Finnish authorities investigated its suspected damage to a key telecom cable linking Finland and Estonia.
- On Monday, Finnish police lifted the seizure of the Fitburg after it departed a Russian port and left Finland's territorial waters at around 11:00 a.m., suspected of damaging an undersea cable on New Year's Eve.
- Investigators say the ship dragged its anchor for an unusually long distance, and Finnish customs said the Fitburg's cargo contained steel products subject to Western sanctions, increasing scrutiny.
- Fourteen crew members from Russia, Georgia, Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan were detained for questioning, and a Helsinki court on Sunday placed one crew member in custody with travel bans on others, Risto Lohi said.
- Finland's National Bureau of Investigation said it is continuing an inquiry into aggravated criminal damage, attempted aggravated criminal damage and aggravated interference with telecommunications, and warned that charges may change as the investigation progresses.
- Western officials say the incident fits into concerns about 'hybrid warfare' in the Baltic Sea, and they note the Eagle S damaged five undersea cables in December 2024, highlighting a pattern.
25 Articles
25 Articles
"Fitburg", which sailed between São Petersburg and Haifa, was appreciated by the Finnish authorities for suspecting damage to a submarine optical fiber cable in the Gulf of Finland.
Fitburg Ship Released by Finland After Cable Damage Probe, Crew Member Still Detained
Finnish authorities have lifted the seizure of the Fitburg vessel, which had been detained on suspicion of damaging a submarine communications cable, and are escorting it out of the country, according to Yle report on January 12. The ship departed the port of Kantvik in Kirkkonummi at around 11 a.m. after Finnish and Estonian police completed preliminary investigations on board, the Finnish Border Guard said. Every article pushes back against d…
Finland Releases Ship Suspected of Damaging Undersea Cable on New Year’s Eve
Finnish police said Monday that they lifted the seizure of a cargo ship suspected of damaging an undersea cable in the Gulf of Finland on New Year’s Eve after it departed from a port in Russia.
Finland releases Fitburg ship suspected of cable damage
Finnish authorities have released the Fitburg, a cargo ship suspected of damaging an undersea communications cable between Finland and Estonia on New Year’s Eve. The ship departed from Kantvik port at 11am on Monday under supervision from the Finnish Border Guard, following the completion of onboard investigations. The vessel was seized on 31 December 2025 in a coordinated operation involving Finnish police, the Border Guard, Customs, Defence Fo…
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