Finland opens trial over Baltic Sea cable damage linked to cargo ship

A Finnish court has begun hearing the case against the captain and boatswain of a cargo ship accused of damaging undersea telecommunications cables and threatening critical infrastructure in the Baltic Sea.

The Helsinki District Court opened proceedings on September 8 against Russian citizen Andrei Maksimenko, the captain of the Fitburg, and an Azerbaijani citizen serving as its boatswain. Both men face charges of aggravated sabotage and aggravated interference with telecommunications, according to Yle.

Finnish prosecutors are seeking prison sentences of at least two years and six months for both defendants. Special Prosecutor Krista Mannerhovi said the vessel had damaged two telecommunications cables and attempted to damage eight other undersea telecommunications cables and gas pipelines. She argued that the incident posed a serious threat to vital societal functions and to Finland’s telecommunications, electricity and gas networks.

Maksimenko has denied any connection between the incident and a potential Russian hybrid attack, dismissing such suggestions as unfounded. The boatswain has also denied the charges.

A representative of the Russian Embassy attended the hearing but declined to comment when asked by Yle why the diplomat was following the trial.

According to Finland’s National Bureau of Investigation, the Fitburg dragged its anchor along the seabed of the Gulf of Finland for at least 130 kilometres before Finnish authorities stopped the vessel. The ship, which was flying the flag of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, had been sailing from Russia to Israel.

Finnish authorities detained the vessel in December 2025 over suspicions that it had damaged the undersea cables. Police later sought the arrest of the boatswain, who was placed under house arrest at the end of March. Maksimenko was not detained and appeared in court voluntarily.

The damaged cables were repaired several months later. The vessel was released from detention in January 2026 and has since been renamed FINEX and registered under the flag of Saint Kitts and Nevis.

By Sabina Mammadli