Finnish authorities suspect that Russia attacked the Balticconnector gas pipeline between Finland and Estonia, Finnish daily Iltalehti reports. The undersea pipeline in the Gulf of Finland was closed due to a leak on 8 October 2023. At the same time, telecommunications operator Elisa’s data cable between Finland and Estonia was damaged as well, ERR reports. Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo announced that the gas pipeline leak was caused by “external activity.” Estonian Defence Minister Hanno Pevkur and Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna also confirmed that the leak was not accidental. Finnish President Sauli Niinistö said that the specific cause of the damage was still unknown. The gas pipeline leak is located in the Finnish exclusive economic zone (EEZ), while the data cable was apparently damaged in the Estonian EEZ. Finnish and Estonian seismic stations have not registered anything resembling explosions in the area. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said that the defence alliance was ready to help in the investigation, ERR reports.
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