On December 31, 2025, Finnish authorities inspected a suspicious tanker in the Baltic Sea to strengthen security measures against underwater threats. The operation was conducted with the participation of border guard helicopters and the Turva coastal guard ship, reflecting increasing concerns about the security of critical infrastructure in the region.
Background of Underwater Threats
Finland and the Baltic region have faced several incidents of damage to power cables, telephone lines, and gas pipelines since Russia's attack on Ukraine in 2022. These incidents have heightened concerns about vulnerabilities in the protection of critical infrastructure. In this context, Finnish authorities have turned to exercises to prepare for such threats.
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Details of the Inspection Exercise
In this exercise, armed officers from the coast guard, police, and armed forces were transferred from a helicopter to the tanker’s deck to begin the inspection operation. Captain Ilja Ilyin, who led the exercise, stated that this action represents the "new normal" in the view of the Helsinki government. He added: "In the past two or three years, several incidents in the Baltic related to damage to critical underwater infrastructure have occurred. Therefore, we must be prepared for when the next incident happens."
Signs indicating that a vessel may be involved in damaging cables include sudden changes in its speed or course when passing over an underwater line. Finland's response to any incident has been increasingly robust. The first suspected vessel managed to escape before authorities could act, while the last vessel was brought under control within hours.
Preparing for Future Threats
In the event of a real incident, police officers on standby can reach their base within an hour and then head to the scene by helicopter or boat. While most incidents have occurred due to vessels and their anchors getting caught, authorities are also preparing to counter sabotage that may be carried out by divers, small submarines, or unmanned underwater vehicles carrying explosives.
The Finnish government is seeking new powers to enable the border guard, including the coast guard, to stop and inspect vessels suspected of flying without flags or with false flags, as well as to intervene against unmanned underwater vehicles.
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