Finland’s Border Guard says it plans to establish a maritime surveillance centre to help prevent damage to critical undersea infrastructure in the Gulf of Finland, amid heightened concerns over cable and pipeline security in the Baltic Sea.
The Baltic region has been on high alert following a series of power cable, telecommunications and gas pipeline outages since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022. The latest incident occurred on New Year’s Eve, when Finnish authorities seized a cargo vessel travelling from Russia to Israel on suspicion of sabotaging an undersea telecoms cable.
The planned Finnish centre will be developed in cooperation with other Baltic Sea states and the European Commission, and forms part of a wider EU action plan proposed last year to strengthen the protection of submarine cables.
“We are developing, and we have the need for, broader preventive measures, even before any harm has occurred,” said Mikko Hirvi, head of maritime safety and security at the Finnish Border Guard.
He said the measures would include seabed sensors, artificial intelligence tools to analyse maritime traffic in real time, and closer information-sharing with allies. Hirvi declined to say which capabilities are already operational.
The surveillance centre will be built gradually using the Border Guard’s existing resources, and Finland also plans to seek European Union funding for the project.
NATO has stepped up its military presence in the Baltic Sea region with frigates, aircraft and naval drones following repeated infrastructure incidents.
Finnish authorities have previously boarded and seized two vessels suspected of damaging seabed cables by dragging their anchors: the oil tanker Eagle S in December 2024 and the cargo vessel Fitburg in December 2025.
“By seizing the ships, authorities managed to prevent further damage from happening,” Hirvi said.
Mikko Simola, commander of the Gulf of Finland Coast Guard District, said officials monitor unusual changes in vessels’ speed or course.
“For the past year in particular, we have focused on obtaining real-time information about vessel deviations,” he said.
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The United States will send its largest-ever Winter Olympic team to the Milano Cortina Games, with 232 athletes selected to compete, the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee said on Monday.
The death toll from nationwide protests in Iran has climbed to 6,126, according to the U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA).
U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday announced higher tariffs on South Korean goods, accusing Seoul’s legislature of failing to approve a previously agreed trade deal between the two countries.
Former Ukrainian diplomat Andrii Telizhenko has told AnewZ that Ukraine’s diplomatic institutions have lost their strength and sovereignty since 2014, alleging that Western governments now exert direct influence over staffing decisions and foreign policy messaging.
The UN Human Rights Council has condemned Iran for rights abuses and ordered an expanded investigation into a crackdown on anti-government protests that killed thousands, as Tehran warned any military attack would be treated as an all-out war.
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz has activated the state’s National Guard following the fatal shooting of a U.S. citizen in Minneapolis, an incident that has triggered protests and intensified tensions between state and federal authorities.
Venezuela’s interim president Delcy Rodriguez said on Sunday the country should not fear pursuing energy ties with the United States, as Caracas seeks to expand oil and gas production and attract foreign investment.
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Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for the 25 January, covering the latest developments you need to know.
The United States will send its largest-ever Winter Olympic team to the Milano Cortina Games, with 232 athletes selected to compete, the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee said on Monday.
The death toll from nationwide protests in Iran has climbed to 6,126, according to the U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA).
U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday announced higher tariffs on South Korean goods, accusing Seoul’s legislature of failing to approve a previously agreed trade deal between the two countries.
President Donald Trump said Iran wants to reach a deal with Washington, as the U.S. deploys an aircraft carrier strike group to the Middle East to bolster its military posture.
President Donald Trump has ordered border czar Tom Homan to take direct control of ICE operations in Minneapolis, as a federal judge weighs whether to halt a federal immigration surge in Minnesota after two U.S. citizens were killed during enforcement actions.
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