General Mark Rutte says the military alliance will step up patrols in the Baltic Sea area as Finnish investigators work to establish whether a ship linked to Russia sabotaged undersea cables there this week.

Amid recent damage to electrical cables in the Baltic Sea, the European Union plans to impose sanctions on Russia's so-called shadow fleet. Additionally, security measures around Europe's critical infrastructure will be strengthened,

NATO said on Friday it would boost its presence in the Baltic Sea after the suspected sabotage this week of an undersea power cable and four internet lines, while alliance member Estonia launched a naval operation to guard a parallel electricity link.