HELSINKI, Jan 2 (Reuters) - Finnish police announced on Friday that they have made progress in their investigation into damage to an undersea telecommunications cable owned by operator Elisa.

Authorities seized the cargo ship Fitburg on Wednesday while it was traveling from Russia to Israel. They suspect the ship may have damaged the telecom cable that runs across the Gulf of Finland from Helsinki to Estonia.

On Thursday, investigators reported that they had arrested two crew members out of 14, placed travel bans on two more, and started questioning them. The crew includes nationals from Russia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, and Azerbaijan.

Detective Chief Superintendent Risto Lohi from Finland’s National Bureau of Investigation stated that the interviews have helped clarify what happened and the roles of the crew members.

The Fitburg was reportedly dragging its anchor at the time of the incident and was boarded by Finnish authorities, who then brought it to shore for inspection.

Finnish officials confirmed that the telecommunications cable is currently not operational, but it will take time to determine the full extent of the damage.

Estonian President Alar Karis expressed hope on Wednesday that the incident was not intentional, but he noted that the investigation would help bring clarity.

The Baltic Sea region, including the Gulf of Finland, has seen a series of incidents in recent years involving damage to gas pipelines, power cables, and telecom links on the seabed, leading to extensive criminal investigations.

Concerns are rising in Europe about perceived hybrid threats from Russia since it began its war in Ukraine, which the Russian government denies.

In a statement, Russia's embassy in Helsinki said they are in contact with Finnish authorities and expressed hope for a cooperative resolution according to legal norms.