Finland Conducts Live Drill Against Undersea Sabotage Threats

• •Finland conducted a live drill to prepare for undersea sabotage threats.
• •The drill involved coast guard and police boarding a vessel in the Baltic Sea.
• •Recent incidents of infrastructure damage have heightened security concerns in the region.

On September 17, 2026, Finnish authorities conducted a live drill in the Baltic Sea to practice responses to potential undersea sabotage, prompted by recent incidents affecting critical infrastructure. This drill involved coast guard, police, and armed forces boarding a target vessel, reflecting Finland's heightened readiness following multiple incidents of damage to underwater cables and pipelines since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Coast Guard Commander Ilja Iljin emphasized the need for preparedness, noting that signs of suspicious activity include abrupt changes in a vessel's speed or course. The government is also seeking new powers to inspect ships suspected of being stateless or falsely flagged. Finland's response capabilities have improved with each incident, with the latest suspect ship being controlled within hours. Officials are preparing for various sabotage methods, including the use of divers and unmanned underwater vehicles.