Two undersea telecom cables linking Estonia and Finland have been repaired following suspected sabotage, Finnish operator Elisa announced Monday.
"The repairs took place today," Elisa's security chief Jaakko Wallenius told AFP, as Finnish authorities investigated an oil tanker with links to Russia for the suspected sabotage in December.
Finnish authorities are investigating the suspected sabotage of four telecoms cables and one power cable on Dec. 25 just weeks after other cables in the region were severed.
Experts and politicians have said recent actions targeting vital infrastructure are part of a hybrid war between Russia and Western countries.
"The repairs took place today," Elisa's security chief Jaakko Wallenius told AFP, adding that the cables seemed to have been severed by an anchor.
Investigators suspect an oil tanker named as Eagle S of the sabotage, accusing the vessel of transporting Russian oil products, which are embargoed over Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
"There is compelling evidence of the Eagle S at the site," Wallenius said, though he added it was up to law enforcement to determine who was responsible.
Flying the flag of the Cook Islands, the Eagle S is now off the coast of Porkkala around 30 kilometers south of Helsinki, and eight of its sailors have been banned from leaving Finnish territory.
The power cable damaged on Dec. 25, the Estlink 2, has not yet been repaired.
One of the telecom cables – running between Finland and Germany – should be fixed by Jan. 10, according to operator Cinia.
There was no information about the final cable affected by the incident, operated by CITIC between Tallinn and Helsinki.
