Kallas: Europe’s Critical Infrastructure Remains at High Risk of Sabotage

EU foreign policy chief warns of growing hybrid threats in the Baltic Sea amid Russia’s war against Ukraine

Europe’s critical infrastructure, particularly in the Baltic Sea region, remains under a high risk of sabotage, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas has said.

Kallas made the statement in a post on X, commenting on recent incidents involving damage to undersea communication cables, UATV English reports.

“Since the start of Russia’s war, there has been a clear pattern of subversive activity in the Baltic Sea. Europe’s critical infrastructure remains at high risk of sabotage,” Kallas wrote.

She expressed gratitude to the Finnish authorities for their swift and decisive actions in detaining a vessel and its crew suspected of damaging undersea cables.

While the investigation is ongoing, Kallas stressed that Europe will remain vigilant and maintain close coordination with the governments of Finland and Estonia.

“The EU will continue to strengthen its critical infrastructure — including by investing in new cables, enhancing surveillance, increasing repair capacities, and countering Moscow’s shadow fleet, which also serves as a platform for hybrid attacks,” she added.

According to Estonia’s Ministry of Justice and Digital Affairs, four communication cables connecting Estonia with other countries were damaged in recent days, along with one cable linking the island of Hiiumaa to the mainland.
An Elisa cable was also damaged between Finland and Estonia in the Gulf of Finland, within Estonia’s economic zone.

Finnish police have conducted preliminary questioning of the crew of the cargo vessel Fitburg, which is suspected of damaging the undersea telecommunications cable shortly before the New Year. The crew reportedly includes citizens of Russia, Georgia, Azerbaijan, and Kazakhstan.

Finland’s Customs Service confirmed on January 1 that steel products subject to international sanctions were found on board the detained vessel.

According to Helsingin Sanomat, investigators observed a rusted anchor raised from the water and secured on the ship — believed to have been used in damaging the communication cable.