Russia is likely to continue its attempts to damage underwater communications networks in the Baltic Sea.
This is the opinion of Finnish military intelligence, according to Yle.
According to a review published on Thursday, Russia’s ability to wield influence through ships operating in the Baltic Sea remains significant.
The threat assessment comes amid incidents involving damage to undersea communications cables and energy infrastructure in the Baltic Sea.
According to intelligence officials, Russia is trying to expand its influence in the region in ways that make its actions difficult to link to Russia.
Speaking of the damage to cables and gas pipelines in the Baltic Sea, Major General Pekka Turunen, the Chief of Intelligence of the General Staff, noted that no direct link to Russia has yet been found in relation to the incidents.
“But when we assess this phenomenon as part of a broader influence, we believe that a state actor is behind it, not someone else,” Turunen stated.
The latest incident took place on New Year’s Eve, when Finland detained the cargo ship Fitburg on suspicion of damaging an underwater telecommunications cable.
Super Puma helicopters from the Finnish Border Guard and NH90 helicopters from the Finnish Defense Forces participated in the operation.
The Finnish Border Guard patrol ships Turva and Uisko, along with a coastal patrol boat, secured the operation.
The police then took into custody 14 crew members of the ship, who are citizens of Russia, Georgia, Azerbaijan, and Kazakhstan. The ship was sailing from St. Petersburg, Russia, to Haifa, Israel, with a cargo of steel products.
At the same time, military intelligence does not consider a direct military threat to Finland from Russia likely this year, as Russian forces are bogged down in Ukraine.
Source: Militarnyi
