Authorities have launched an investigation into potential sabotage after two underwater telecommunications cables in the Baltic Sea were cut within 24 hours. The incident has raised alarms amid growing tensions in the region.
The damage occurred near the Swedish island of Öland, with an investigation led by Sweden in coordination with Finland, Germany, and Lithuania. Swedish Minister for Civil Defense Carl-Oskar Bohlin emphasized the need for a thorough understanding of the situation in light of the current security context.
The first cable was severed on Sunday at around 10 a.m. local time, connecting Lithuania and Sweden. Telia spokesperson Audrius Stasiulaitis stated that it was clear the damage was not due to equipment failure but rather physical damage to the cable itself. The second cable, linking Germany and Finland, was cut on Monday around 3 p.m. local time.
Fortunately, Internet traffic remained unaffected, as Telia was able to reroute services during the disruption. Arelion, the Swedish company operating the cable, confirmed they are coordinating with Swedish authorities regarding the incident.
Repair efforts are set to begin later this week, but the timeline for repairs will depend on weather conditions. Both the Lithuanian Prosecutor’s Office and Swedish police have opened separate investigations into the incidents.
A joint statement from the foreign ministries of Germany and Finland expressed deep concern regarding the severed cables, noting that such incidents raise suspicions of intentional damage. They highlighted the challenges posed by hybrid warfare and the importance of safeguarding critical infrastructure.
The recent cable damage is part of a growing list of mysterious undersea incidents, including the notable sabotage of the Nord Stream 1 and 2 gas pipelines in 2022. In another related incident last year, a Chinese container ship caused damage to undersea pipelines and cables while dragging its anchor through the Gulf of Finland, leading to a joint criminal investigation by Finnish and Estonian authorities.
Credit: ABC News
