Finland suspects Russia to blame after gas pipeline and telephone cable linking country to Estonia damaged
- Finnish defense sources said the government suspects Russia is involved
- Russia has a history of meddling in Nordic waters
- Finland is one of the youngest members of NATO
Finland suspects Russia may be behind damage to a major gas pipeline and telephone cable in neighboring Estonia, insiders have claimed.
Finnish authorities expect the Baltic Connector gas pipeline, as well as its sister telephone cable, to be out of service for months after discovering it was damaged on October 8.
While no official cause has yet been released, Finnish defense sources told Iltalehti newspaper that from the start of their investigation, the government considered it possible that Russia sabotaged the key pipeline.
Finland’s president, Sauli Niinistö, said in a statement: “It is likely that the damage to the 94-mile-long gas pipeline and communication cable was the result of external activity.”
He said Finland was working with Estonia to investigate the root of the problem, adding that he had spoken to NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, who said on X, once Twitter: ‘NATO is sharing information and is ready to support interested allies.’
The 94-mile-long pipeline supplies a third of Finland’s gas requirements
The pipeline is capable of delivering up to 2.6 billion cubic meters of natural gas annually
Finnish defense sources said the government considered the possibility of Russian interference from the beginning
Finland’s President Sauli Niinistö (pictured) said the pipelines and telephone cable were damaged by outside interference
Several other countries have also announced that they are on the side of Finland and Estonia.
Sweden’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Tobias Billström, said: “Sweden stands with our Nordic-Baltic colleagues and is ready to provide any assistance regarding damage to underwater infrastructure.”
And Latvia’s president, Edgars Rinkēvičs, said he was ‘very concerned about reports that damage to the gas pipeline and data cable between Finland and Estonia was caused by outside activity.
“We look forward to the results of the investigation.” he added.
The pipeline is capable of delivering up to 2.6 billion cubic meters of natural gas annually, enough to supply up to a third of Finland’s gas demand.
Relations between Finland, one of NATO’s newest members, and Russia are strained.
Earlier this year, Finland expelled nine Russian diplomats from the country for allegedly working with Russian intelligence.
And last year, it was reported that the navies of Finland and Sweden were increasing their preparations should Russia decide to attack one of their energy networks.
Russian submarines and ‘research vessels’, which are said to be used to disguise espionage activity, are often seen off the coast of Finland.
As recently as August, Finns living off the coast of the Hanko Peninsula were able to take pictures of a Russian submarine hiding in the Gulf of Finland, in the Baltic Sea.
Russia is known for sending spy ships to Nordic waters
A spy ship was seen manned by armed and masked soldiers
Espionage activities allegedly undertaken by Russian ships include mapping offshore wind turbines, submarine cables and other key infrastructure
Espionage activities allegedly undertaken by Russian vessels include mapping offshore wind turbines, submarine cables and other key infrastructure.
An investigation by public broadcasters in Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Finland found that the Kremlin often deployed ‘ghost ships’ to mark areas for potential disruptive activity.
Up to 50 suspected Russian spy ships have been identified sailing in Nordic waters. A ship was seen equipped with armed soldiers.
Nils Andreas Stensones, the head of Norwegian intelligence, told broadcasters that the alleged spying program was considered ‘very important’ to Russia and was likely controlled directly by Moscow.
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