Already in October last year, a Finnish gas pipeline and two data cables connecting Sweden, Estonia, and Finland were damaged. Then, as now, a ship is suspected to have caused the damage. This is what we know about the events in the Gulf of Finland during the Christmas holidays.
In mid-November, two underwater cables in the Baltic Sea were damaged, one between Finland and Germany, and the other between Sweden and Lithuania.
Suspicions are directed towards Russia, which is believed to have carried out the sabotage via the Chinese vessel Yi Peng 3.
The police authorities in Finland, Sweden, and Lithuania establish a joint investigation team, JIT, to investigate the cause of the damage to the cables.
In early December, two new cable breaks are discovered on internet connections between Sweden and Finland. Initially, sabotage was suspected, but this was later denied by the Finnish police.
On Christmas Day, the tanker Eagle S passes the cable Estlink 2 at 11:26 am, according to the maritime surveillance website Marine Traffic.
Shortly thereafter, the Finnish network operator Fingrid announces that it has lost contact with the power cable Estlink 2.
The damage is localized to Finnish waters, and suspicions are directed towards Eagle S.
Three communication cables have also been destroyed, according to Estonian authorities.
On Thursday, Eagle S is boarded by Finnish police and military. The tanker is escorted to the port of Porkkala in Finland. The police and border guard conduct technical investigations, and the crew is questioned.
The suspected crime is being investigated as gross sabotage.
The Finnish customs suspect that the vessel has also violated the sanctions against Russia.
On Friday morning, Estonia's defense forces announce that they have launched an operation in the Baltic Sea to protect the underwater cable Estlink 1.
NATO announces that it is now expanding its military presence in the Baltic Sea.
Finland's president confirms at a press conference that the three cable failures in Finland over the past year cannot just be a coincidence.
Sweden's Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson (M) announces on X that Sweden is ready to help.
