Finland's secret service says frequency of cable incidents is 'exceptional'

FILE PHOTO: Finnish Border Guard's ship Turva escorts Cook Islands-registered oil tanker Eagle S out to sea on the Baltic, March 2, 2025 near Porvoo, Finland in handout picture released by the Finnish Border Guard. Lehtikuva/Finnish Border Guard/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo

HELSINKI (Reuters) - The frequency of cable incidents in the Baltic Sea has been "exceptional" in recent years, but state actors have more effective ways of performing underwater sabotage than by dragging anchors, Finland's intelligence service chief said.

The Baltic Sea region is on high alert after a string of power cable, telecom link and gas pipeline outages since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, and the NATO military alliance has boosted its presence with frigates, aircraft and naval drones.