Two undersea telecom cables connecting Estonia and Finland have been repaired after suspected sabotage, Finnish telecom operator Elisa announced on Monday.
The repairs come amid an ongoing investigation by Finnish authorities into the suspected sabotage of four telecom cables and one power cable on December 25, weeks after similar incidents in the region.
Experts and politicians have suggested these attacks on critical infrastructure may be part of a hybrid war between Russia and Western nations.
“The repairs were completed today,” said Elisa’s security chief Jaakko Wallenius, speaking to AFP. He noted that the damage appeared to have been caused by an anchor.
Investigations Point to Oil Tanker “Eagle S”
Investigators suspect the oil tanker Eagle S of being involved in the sabotage. The vessel is accused of transporting Russian oil products in violation of embargoes imposed due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
“There is compelling evidence placing the Eagle S at the site,” Wallenius stated, although he emphasized that it is up to law enforcement to determine responsibility.
The Eagle S, registered under the Cook Islands flag, is currently located off the coast of Porkkala, about 30 kilometers south of Helsinki. Finnish authorities have barred eight of its crew members from leaving the country.
Power Cable Repairs Pending
The damaged power cable, known as Estlink 2, remains unrepaired. Meanwhile, another affected telecom cable between Finland and Germany, operated by Cinia, is expected to be repaired by January 10.
However, there is no update on the fourth cable involved in the incident, operated by CITIC and running between Tallinn and Helsinki.
These events follow weeks of heightened tensions and disruptions to infrastructure in the Baltic Sea region, underscoring concerns about the security of essential systems in the area.
