Finland’s security and intelligence service, Supo, has described the number of cable incidents in the Baltic Sea as "exceptional" in recent years, even though state actors possess far more effective means of conducting underwater sabotage than simply dragging anchors.
The Baltic Sea region has been on high alert since a series of outages—including disruptions to power cables, telecom links, and gas pipelines—began following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. NATO has since increased its military presence in the area, deploying frigates, aircraft, and naval drones.
On Sunday, Finland released the oil tanker Eagle S, which is suspected of having damaged a Baltic Sea power cable and four data cables late last year. However, Finnish police have not yet reached definitive conclusions in several ongoing investigations.
Juha Martelius, head of Supo, emphasized that while the frequency of these incidents is notable, they are considered a secondary issue compared to the broader strategic threat in the region. “The biggest concern regarding the Baltic Sea is that Russia’s shadow fleet operates there and provides Russia with warfare capabilities by allowing Russia to sell energy to other countries,” he told Reuters. The "shadow fleet" refers to vessels used by Russia to transport oil, arms, and grains in defiance of international sanctions related to the Ukraine conflict.
In a national security review published on Tuesday, Supo noted that dozens of such vessels sail through the Gulf of Finland to Russian oil ports each week. Martelius warned that the abundance of these vessels increases the likelihood of further incidents affecting underwater critical infrastructure. He urged Western countries to take the threat seriously, stressing that state actors have significantly more effective capabilities for causing subsea destruction than by merely dragging anchors.
The ongoing investigations into these cable breaches underscore the persistent security challenges in the Baltic Sea region, as regional tensions and the potential for sabotage continue to grow.
Prime Minister Petteri Orpo has announced Finland's ambition to host a European AI gigafactory. The move aims to boost national growth by building on the success of the LUMI supercomputer, with telecommunications giant Nokia poised to lead the project's business consortium.
President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev highlighted the strong Kazakh-Finnish partnership and expressed willingness to deepen ties, while the OSCE Chairperson praised Kazakhstan's growing regional influence and cooperation.
Türkiye and Finland have signed a Defence Industry Cooperation Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at deepening collaboration between the two NATO allies through joint production, technology exchange, and the development of defence capabilities.
Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo has called on the United States to implement tougher sanctions against Russia, as the EU prepares its next sanctions package.
Ukraine and Finland have launched a coalition to build thousands of civil defense shelters, with Kyiv urging global support to bolster wartime readiness.
Chile's Vera C. Rubin Observatory has unveiled its first cosmic images, captured using the world's largest digital camera, paving the way for breakthroughs in understanding the solar system and monitoring asteroid threats to Earth.
At least nine people, including children and their rescuers, died after sudden floodwaters swept through a river in Pakistan’s Swat Valley, turning a family picnic into tragedy.
North Korea plans to attract Russian tourists after opening its long-delayed Wonsan-Kalma coastal resort to domestic travellers in July, amid deepening ties with Moscow.
Denmark’s Arctic chief has dismissed concerns over a U.S. takeover of Greenland but says more must be done to deter any Russian attack on the strategically vital Arctic island.
With the tariff deadline fast approaching, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is pushing for a swift and straightforward trade agreement between the EU and the U.S., as both sides continue talks to avoid a potential economic standoff.
Iran launched 18 ballistic missiles late Sunday targeting the U.S. military’s Al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar, the largest American installation in the Middle East.
China has unveiled a mosquito-sized bionic drone designed for covert military operations and battlefield reconnaissance, marking a major advance in micro-robotics and stealth technology as part of the country’s growing focus on next-generation warfare capabilities.
The U.S. Embassy in Qatar has advised American citizens to shelter in place amid rising tensions between Israel and Iran, as part of a broader global security alert issued by Washington.
In a televised address on Saturday night, U.S. President Donald J. Trump announced that American forces, in coordination with Israel, had conducted precision strikes on Iran’s Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan nuclear sites, aiming to dismantle Tehran’s enrichment capabilities.
President Donald Trump announced that U.S. forces struck three Iranian nuclear facilities, including Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan, marking direct American involvement in the ongoing Israel-Iran conflict.
The United States and China have resolved disputes over rare earth mineral and magnet shipments, overcoming a key hurdle that had delayed a trade agreement reached in May.
The Kremlin has voiced strong concern over Estonia’s readiness to host NATO’s nuclear-capable F-35A jets, calling the move an immediate danger to Russia.
At least nine people, including children and their rescuers, died after sudden floodwaters swept through a river in Pakistan’s Swat Valley, turning a family picnic into tragedy.
North Korea plans to attract Russian tourists after opening its long-delayed Wonsan-Kalma coastal resort to domestic travellers in July, amid deepening ties with Moscow.
Denmark’s Arctic chief has dismissed concerns over a U.S. takeover of Greenland but says more must be done to deter any Russian attack on the strategically vital Arctic island.
Chile's Vera C. Rubin Observatory has unveiled its first cosmic images, captured using the world's largest digital camera, paving the way for breakthroughs in understanding the solar system and monitoring asteroid threats to Earth.
At least nine people, including children and their rescuers, died after sudden floodwaters swept through a river in Pakistan’s Swat Valley, turning a family picnic into tragedy.
North Korea plans to attract Russian tourists after opening its long-delayed Wonsan-Kalma coastal resort to domestic travellers in July, amid deepening ties with Moscow.
Denmark’s Arctic chief has dismissed concerns over a U.S. takeover of Greenland but says more must be done to deter any Russian attack on the strategically vital Arctic island.
With the tariff deadline fast approaching, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is pushing for a swift and straightforward trade agreement between the EU and the U.S., as both sides continue talks to avoid a potential economic standoff.
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