The criminal investigative measures concerning the damage to the telecommunications cable have reached a stage where the authorities have been able to lift the seizure. The Fitburg vessel will leave Finland's territorial waters on January 12, 2026. The vessel departs from the port at approximately 11 a.m.
The operation led by the Helsinki Police will end once the Fitburg vessel has left Kantvik harbour. After that the authorities will continue their normal duties and release information about their respective areas of responsibility themselves.
– The Finnish and Estonian police have completed their work on board the vessel, and the seizure can therefore be lifted. Yesterday, Sunday, January 11, the Helsinki District Court remanded a crew member of a ship named Fitburg in custody pending retrial. Some of the ship's crew remain under a travel ban, says Tactical Leader of the investigation, Risto Lohi, from the National Bureau of Investigation.
The Border Guard monitored the departure of the Fitburg from Finnish territorial waters and the exclusive economic zone.
The Border Guard took immediate action to investigate possible damage to critical infrastructure. The Finnish Coast Guard patrol vessel Turva assisted the National Bureau of Investigation with underwater investigations in the Gulf of Finland and mapped the anchor drag trail over a distance of several tens of kilometers.
Other key actors during the operation include Finnish Customs and the Finnish Transport and Communications Services (Traficom). Customs carried out sanctions-related monitoring by inspecting the ship's cargo and conducted a preliminary investigation into the suspected sanctions violation. Traficom carried out a port state control inspection of the vessel outside the normal inspection interval on the basis of suspicions related to damage to a submarine cable.
– The Finnish authorities took swift action and prevented any further damage from occurring in the Gulf of Finland. Authorities have the capacity to respond to cable damage and other similar situations and work together seamlessly, says Police Chief Jari Liukku of the Helsinki Police Department.
The Fitburg vessel is suspected of causing damage to Elisa's submarine cable on New Year's Eve, December 31, 2025. The damage occurred in Estonia's exclusive economic zone.
The National Bureau of Investigation is conducting a preliminary investigation into the matter in cooperation with the Estonian National Police. In Finland, the police are investigating the incident as aggravated criminal damage, attempted aggravated criminal damage, and aggravated interference with telecommunications. Criminal offences may change as the investigation progresses.
The Finnish authorities took control of the ship in a joint operation and prevented further damage. The Border Guard and the Defence Forces have provided significant assistance to the police at sea and in the air throughout the operation.
