Sweden suspects “serious sabotage” after cable damaged under the Baltic Sea

Swedish authorities on Monday boarded a ship in connection with what they described as “serious sabotage” after an undersea communications cable was damaged in the Baltic Sea a day earlier. Authorities said the ship was being escorted to the coast of Sweden for investigation.

“We suspect that a serious act of sabotage was committed in the Swedish economic zone yesterday,” Mats Ligqvist, the Swedish prosecutor leading the damage investigation, said in a phone interview on Monday.

Authorities have not announced the nature or extent of damage to the communications cable, which runs between Sweden and Latvia.

The incident follows other suspected sabotage attempts on cables under the Baltic Sea, which has recently become the scene of a potential hybrid war between NATO and Russia.

Two weeks ago, the Atlantic Alliance began a new patrol and surveillance procedure to protect critical infrastructure at sea, which Russia has on the coast, after which Number of cables He was I snapped.

Mark Root, the organization’s Secretary-General, said the NATO mission, called Baltic Sentry, aims to help underwater cables and pipelines by strengthening the alliance’s presence in the region. The operation includes frigates, maritime patrol aircraft, underwater satellites, remotely operated vehicles and drones.

NATO, which Sweden Newest memberIt said the mission was an effort “to improve the ability to protect critical infrastructure at sea and respond if necessary.”

Coalition officials have regularly said that, although they suspect Russia of sabotaging cables and pipelines, it is extremely difficult to prove actual responsibility.

The Swedish security services said that the preliminary investigation indicates that the incident may be an attempt to target Swedish interests. The security service of the seized ship said, “It is suspected that the map was carried out.” Statement issued Monday.

“At the moment, the Swedish authorities are on the ship to conduct various investigative measures,” Johan Wikström, a spokesman for the service, said by phone on Monday.

Mr Ljungqvist, the prosecutor, said the seized vessel was called Vezhen.

Bolger Shipping, a Bulgarian shipping company Vezhen lists In its fleet as a senior carrier with the Maltese flag, it was deployed Statement on their website Monday in reference to the “power hall condition that occurred due to unfavorable hydrological conditions in the area.”

The company said it had “no information about any intentional actions by the crew” that could have damaged the cables and expressed its support for the authorities in the investigation.

On Sunday, the Coast Guard escorted the ship to the Swedish coast, Mr. Wickstrom said. It is now anchored outside Karlskrona, a southern city that houses Sweden’s largest naval base and also the headquarters of the Coast Guard.

Mr. Wikstrom declined to provide further details about the seized vessel or how and where authorities discovered the damage to the cable.

NATO ships and aircraft responded to the reported damage and were working with their regional allies, the coalition said Monday in an email.

Prime Minister Ivica Selina of Latvia said in Social media post Latvian, Swedish and NATO authorities were working together to investigate the incident, patrolling the area and inspecting ships. It added that the cable had been damaged in Sweden’s economic zone and that authorities had launched a “criminal investigation.”

In late December, Finnish authorities seized an oil tanker suspected of cutting undersea cables, accusing the ship of being part of Russia’s “Shadow Fleet”, any Western officials say they are thinking Russia is using To evade sanctions. In response, NATO said it would Increase security In the region, the European Union threatened new sanctions against Moscow.

In November, several European countries suspended A Chinese merchant ship After cutting two fiber optic cables. Germany’s Defense Minister described cutting the cables act of “sabotage” Aimed at European countries that supported Ukraine during its existence Fights Russiaalthough US intelligence authorities said it was not intentionally cut.

In 2022, explosions damaged parts of Nord Stream PipelineStopping deliveries of Russian natural gas to Western Europe. American intelligence pointed out A Pro-Ukrainian groupalthough a lot Still mysterious About the accident.

The cable damaged on Sunday belongs to the Radio and Television Center of Latvia, according to Statement from the center Sunday night.

The statement noted that since the cable is located at a depth of more than 160 feet, the center will only be able to determine the exact nature of the damage once the repair work begins.

Steven Erlanger She contributed reporting from Berlin.