Two Baltic Sea telecoms cables repaired after suspected sabotage

HELSINKI – Two telecommunications cables connecting Estonia and Finland under the Baltic Sea have been repaired after suspected sabotage, Finnish operator Elisa said on Jan 6.

The Finnish authorities are investigating

the suspected sabotage

of four telecoms cables and one power cable on Dec 25, just weeks after other cables in the region were severed.

Experts and politicians have said recent actions targeting vital infrastructure are part of

a hybrid war between Russia and Western countries.

“The repairs took place today,” Elisa’s security chief Jaakko Wallenius told AFP, adding that the cables seemed to have been severed by an anchor.

Investigators suspect

an oil tanker named as Eagle S

of the sabotage, accusing the vessel of transporting Russian oil products, which are embargoed over

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

“There is compelling evidence of the Eagle S at the site,” Mr Wallenius said, though he added that it was up to law enforcement to determine who was responsible.

Flying the flag of the Cook Islands, the Eagle S is now off the coast of Porkkala around 30km south of Helsinki, and eight of its sailors have been banned from leaving Finnish territory.

The power cable damaged on Dec 25, the Estlink 2, has not yet been repaired.

One of the telecoms cables – running between Finland and Germany – should be fixed by Jan 10, according to operator Cinia.

There was no information about the final cable affected by the incident, operated by Citic between Tallinn and Helsinki. AFP