• 2 min de lectura
• 2 min de lectura
Finnish authorities boarded and inspected a target vessel in the Baltic Sea in a live drill that, according to officials, would demonstrate the seriousness with which the region takes the threat of underwater sabotage after a series of incidents.
Finland and the Baltic Sea region as a whole have suffered breaks in power cables, telecommunications lines, and gas pipelines since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, raising concerns about the lack of sufficient protection for critical infrastructure.
Hooded officers from the Coast Guard, Police, and Armed Forces rappelled from a helicopter onto the deck of a vessel, subduing the crew and inspecting the ship room by room.
Coast Guard Commander Ilja Iljin, who led the drill, noted that the exercise reflects what Helsinki considers "the new normal."
"In the last two or three years, we have recorded several incidents in the Baltic linked to damage to critical underwater infrastructure. Therefore, we must be prepared for when the next event occurs," Iljin stated.
"Among the signs suggesting that a vessel could be involved in cutting a cable include abrupt changes in speed or course while transiting over an underwater line," he added.
Finland's response has been refined with each incident. The first suspicious vessel sailed away before authorities could act, while the most recent vessel was brought under control within hours.
"In a real alert, police officers on duty can be at their base in less than an hour before deploying by helicopter or vessel," said Chief Inspector Juha Hietala, from the police's special intervention unit.
Although most incidents were caused by vessels dragging or snagging their anchors, authorities are also preparing for possible sabotage carried out by divers, mini-submarines, or submersible robots loaded with explosives.
In parallel, the Government seeks to obtain new powers for the Border Guard - which includes the coast guard - to intercept and inspect vessels suspected of lacking nationality or flying a false flag, as well as to intervene against unmanned underwater vehicles.
