Finnish authorities have seized a cargo ship after discovering it was carrying Russian steel banned under European Union sanctions. The same vessel is also suspected of damaging a major underwater telecommunications cable between Finland and Estonia. The incident has triggered parallel investigations into possible sanctions violations and serious damage to critical infrastructure in the Baltic Sea.
The case involves Finnish police and Finnish Customs and combines concerns related to maritime safety, international trade restrictions, and regional security. Officials have confirmed that investigations are ongoing and that no final legal decisions have yet been made.
Ship Fitburg Detained Over Suspected Cable Damage
Finnish police detained the cargo ship Fitburg on Wednesday in the Gulf of Finland. The vessel is 132 metres long and was traveling from St. Petersburg in Russia to Haifa in Israel. Authorities said the ship was stopped after suspicion arose that its anchor damaged an underwater telecommunications cable connecting Helsinki and Tallinn.
The damaged cable is located in Estonia’s exclusive economic zone and is owned by Elisa, a Finnish telecommunications company. Elisa confirmed that the damage did not affect customers, as services were quickly rerouted. Despite this, officials stressed that any harm to undersea cables is treated as a serious matter due to their importance for internet and data traffic between countries.
Finnish police said they are investigating the incident as aggravated criminal damage, attempted aggravated criminal damage, and aggravated interference with telecommunications. These charges reflect the importance of protecting infrastructure that supports essential communication services.
The Fitburg sails under the flag of St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Fourteen crew members were on board, coming from Russia, Georgia, Azerbaijan, and Kazakhstan. All crew members were detained for questioning. Police later confirmed that two crew members were placed under arrest and two others were placed under a travel ban. Authorities did not disclose further details about their identities or duties.
Finnish Customs Confirms Cargo Falls Under EU Sanctions
Following the ship’s detention, Finnish Customs carried out an inspection of the Fitburg’s cargo late Wednesday. Preliminary findings showed that the cargo consisted of steel products originating in Russia. Finnish Customs stated that experts assessed the cargo and determined that the structural steel falls under the European Union’s sectoral sanctions imposed on Russia.
These sanctions were introduced after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Under EU regulations, the import of certain Russian steel products into the European Union is prohibited.
Finnish Customs said the steel cargo has been impounded and will remain so while authorities examine how EU sanctions legislation applies to this case. The agency has opened a preliminary inquiry with the aim of launching a pre-trial investigation into a possible sanctions violation.
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Although the ship was bound for Israel, Finnish Customs noted that the transport of sanctioned goods through EU territory or waters may still breach EU sanctions rules. Officials emphasized that the legal review is still ongoing and that no conclusions have yet been reached.
Baltic Sea Infrastructure Raises Security Concerns
The incident comes amid growing concern over damage to energy and communications infrastructure in the Baltic Sea. In recent years, several underwater cables and pipelines in the region have been damaged, raising alarms among European authorities.
Since the start of the war in Ukraine, many experts and political leaders have described such incidents as part of a broader pattern of “hybrid war”. This term refers to actions that fall between peace and open conflict, including sabotage and interference with civilian infrastructure.
EU officials have warned that critical infrastructure, especially underwater cables, is at high risk due to its importance and vulnerability. Measures such as increased surveillance and enforcement against so-called shadow fleets have been highlighted as key priorities.
The Fitburg case has drawn attention because it involves both suspected cable damage and the transport of EU-sanctioned Russian goods. Finnish police and Finnish Customs continue to conduct separate investigations, while the steel remains impounded and legal measures against crew members remain in place.