Overview
- Telecom operator Elisa reported a fault early December 31 on a data cable between Helsinki and Tallinn, and traffic was rerouted without service disruption.
- Finnish authorities identified the detained vessel as the freighter Fitburg, flagged to St. Vincent and the Grenadines, with its anchor chain observed deployed before it was directed to a safe anchorage.
- Police opened investigations into serious property damage and severe disruption of telecommunications, questioning 14 crew members and later arresting two while imposing travel bans on two others.
- Finnish Customs inspected the cargo and temporarily seized Russian steel pending a review for potential EU sanctions violations.
- Estonia said an Arelion line was also damaged, and a joint Finnish–Estonian team is pursuing seabed forensics as NATO and EU bodies monitor the case without assigning state responsibility.