GULF OF FINLAND, Sept 17 (Reuters) – Finnish officials conducted a live drill on Thursday by boarding and searching a target vessel in the Baltic Sea. This exercise highlights the seriousness with which the region views the threat of underwater sabotage, especially after several recent incidents.
Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Finland and other countries in the Baltic Sea have experienced damage to power cables, telecommunications lines, and gas pipelines. These events have raised alarms about the vulnerability of critical infrastructure.
On Thursday, masked officers from the coast guard, police, and military fast-roped onto a vessel from a helicopter. They secured the crew and conducted a thorough search of the ship's interior.
Coast Guard Commander Ilja Iljin, who oversaw the drill, described it as a reflection of what he calls “the new normal” in the region.
“In the last two or three years, we've seen multiple incidents in the Baltic concerning damage to critical underwater infrastructure,” Iljin explained. “We must be prepared for the next occurrence.”
Iljin mentioned that signs of a ship potentially causing cable damage can include sudden changes in speed or direction when passing over an underwater line.
Finland has sharpened its response with each incident; the first suspect ship managed to leave before authorities could respond, while the most recent situation was handled within hours.
In an actual emergency, police officers on standby can reach their base within an hour and can be deployed by helicopter or boat, according to Chief Inspector Juha Hietala of the police's special intervention unit.
While many past incidents were attributed to vessels dragging their anchors, officials are also preparing for potential sabotage involving divers, mini-submarines, or unmanned underwater vehicles equipped with explosives.
The government is also seeking new powers for the Border Guard, which includes the coast guard, to stop and inspect ships suspected of being stateless or illegitimately flagged and to take action against unmanned underwater vehicles.