The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has completed the criminal investigation into damage to two subsea telecommunications cables in the Gulf of Finland in late 2025. The investigation has concluded with four suspects.
The criminal investigation concerned damage to two telecommunications cables within Estonia's exclusive economic zone on 31 December 2025, with some of the damage also sustained within Finnish territorial waters. The incident was initially investigated through a joint operation by Finnish authorities, after which the NBI opened a formal criminal investigation.
The suspected offences were aggravated criminal damage, attempted aggravated criminal damage and aggravated interference with telecommunications. The investigation concluded with four suspects, three of whom remain subject to a travel ban.
The NBI worked throughout the investigation in close cooperation with the Estonian National Criminal Police within the framework of a Joint Investigation Team (JIT). The maritime capabilities of the Finnish Border Guard and the Finnish Defence Forces played a central role both in the initial phase of the joint operation and throughout the criminal investigation. Finnish Customs and the Finnish Transport and Communications Agency Traficom also made significant contributions to the investigation and inter-agency cooperation.
– This kind of inter-agency cooperation allows us to respond quickly, pool the expertise of various actors and work effectively even in complex cases. It has also been crucial in driving this investigation forward and bringing it to a conclusion both swiftly and to a high standard, says Detective Superintendent Kimmo Huhta-aho of the NBI, who led the investigation.
The criminal investigation is complete and the case will be now referred to prosecution authorities for consideration of charges. The consideration of charges will be conducted by the Deputy Prosecutor General.
How events unfolded
On 31 December 2025, two subsea telecommunications cables owned by Elisa Oyj and Arelion Finland Oy and running between Finland and Estonia were damaged within Estonia's exclusive economic zone. Suspicion quickly fell on a cargo vessel named Fitburg, flying the flag of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.
The Finnish Border Guard identified the vessel in connection with the incident, prevented further damage, and instructed the vessel to proceed to a safe anchorage. Once the vessel had anchored, operational command passed to the Helsinki Police Department. Shortly afterwards, the prosecutor issued an investigation order and the criminal investigation was opened, at which point responsibility for the investigation passed to the NBI.
The vessel was instructed to proceed to a place of safety for the purposes of the investigation, and was taken into possession by the authorities upon entering Finnish territorial waters on 31 December 2025. The vessel was subsequently escorted to the port of Kantvik in Kirkkonummi for extensive investigative measures.
A national joint intelligence and investigation team comprising police, customs and border guard authorities (PTR) was established to investigate the case. Furthermore, an international Joint Investigation Team (JIT) with Estonia was set up.
In order to secure the investigation, the NBI seized the vessel Fitburg from 07 to 12 January 2026.
During the investigation, evidence was gathered from the damage site, on board the vessel and from devices belonging to crew members, and the investigation was advanced using both technical and tactical methods. The investigation included, among other measures, interviews, underwater surveys, and extensive inter-agency cooperation.
