Helsinki court sentences Fitburg captain and boatswain over Gulf of Finland cable damage
A Helsinki court sentenced the Russian captain and Azerbaijani boatswain of the cargo ship Fitburg to prison for damaging two undersea telecommunications cables in the Gulf of Finland. The court said they intentionally dragged the ship’s anchor along the seabed for about 130 kilometers. Both denied wrongdoing; the captain plans to appeal, while the boatswain has not decided.
More context
The Russian captain and Azerbaijani boatswain of cargo ship Fitburg received prison terms from a Helsinki court over damage to two undersea telecommunications cables in the Gulf of Finland. The Helsinki District Court found the men guilty of aggravated sabotage and said they acted intentionally when the ship dragged its anchor along the seabed for about 130 kilometers (81 miles). The captain was sentenced to three years and six months; the boatswain, to two years and 10 months. The court also ordered them to pay about €1.9 million in damages jointly, with the captain ordered to pay an additional €85,000. Both denied wrongdoing and challenged Finland’s jurisdiction. Their lawyers said the captain plans to appeal; the boatswain had not decided. Finnish authorities seized Fitburg on Dec. 31, 2025, while it was sailing from Russia to Israel.
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Reporting
- Reuters — Finland court convicts Russian captain, Azerbaijani crew member over Baltic Sea cable damage
- ABC News — Russian captain among 2 crew found guilty by Finnish court of damaging Baltic cables - ABC News
- Deutsche Welle — Finland court jails captain, crew member over cable sabotage
- South China Morning Post — Finland jails Russian cargo ship captain over Baltic Sea cable sabotage | South China Morning Post
- NV News — Finnish court jails Fitburg captain and boatswain over undersea cable damage / The New Voice of Ukraine
- The Moscow Times — Finland Jails Russian Captain and Azerbaijani Crew Member Over Baltic Sea Cable Damage - The Moscow Times
- srnnews.com (with Reuters) — Finland court convicts Russian captain, Azerbaijani crew member over Baltic Sea cable damage - SRN News
- theins.press — Finnish court sentences captain and boatswain of ship that damaged underwater cables to prison — The Insider
Verifier’s note
ABC News, SRN News, DW, The Insider, The New Voice of Ukraine, The Moscow Times, South China Morning Post, and Reuters report that a Finnish court sentenced the Fitburg’s captain and a crew member for damaging undersea cables. The reports concern the court ruling on November 5, 2026, consistent with the proposed event’s timing and central claim.