Finnish Prosecutors Charge Ship Officers with Sabotage Over Baltic Undersea Cable Damage

Finnish prosecutors have filed charges against the captain and boatswain of the cargo ship Fitburg, accusing them of aggravated sabotage and interference with telecommunications. The charges stem from the December incident where two undersea fiber optic cables between Finland and Estonia were severed in the Baltic Sea.

Prosecutors allege that the two officers, associated with the Fitburg, a vessel suspected of belonging to Russia's "ghost fleet", intentionally damaged the cables by dragging the ship's anchor across the seabed for at least 130 kilometers. They are also accused of attempting to damage eight other underwater infrastructures.

"The prosecution believes that, in addition to causing considerable immediate damage, the act posed a serious danger to the functioning of telecommunications, electricity, and gas networks in Finland," the prosecution stated in a release. The captain is Russian, and the boatswain is from Azerbaijan. Two other officers are also considered suspects, with charges to be determined later.

During the preliminary investigation, the accused denied wrongdoing and questioned Finland's jurisdiction, claiming the damage occurred outside its territorial waters. The District Court of Helsinki will now decide on the jurisdiction. The Fitburg, flying a Saint Vincent and the Grenadines flag, was detained on December 31, 2025, after authorities found evidence of extensive seabed dragging, allegedly caused by its anchor, which was reportedly lowered while the ship was in motion.

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The prosecution believes that, in addition to causing considerable immediate damage, the act posed a serious danger to the functioning of telecommunications, electricity, and gas networks in Finland.