Swedish authorities have released a Bulgarian-owned vessel after ruling out sabotage in the recent rupture of an undersea fibre-optic cable between Sweden and Latvia.
Cable Damage Sparks Security Fears
The incident, which occurred in January, was one of several recent cases of undersea cable damage in the Baltic Sea, raising concerns over potential Russian sabotage and espionage in the region. The affected cable runs between Ventspils, Latvia, and the Swedish island of Gotland, a strategic location in the Baltic.
Authorities initially detained the Vezhen, a vessel operated by Bulgarian shipping company Navibulgar, on January 26 after it was identified as the likely cause of the damage. The detention fueled speculation of a deliberate attack on critical infrastructure.
However, Swedish prosecutors announced Monday that their investigation found no evidence of sabotage.
Investigation Clears Ship of Malicious Intent
Senior prosecutor Mats Ljungqvist confirmed that while the Vezhen was responsible for the damage, there was no deliberate act of sabotage.
“After forensic examinations, analysis of seized equipment, and witness testimonies, we can say with certainty that this is not a case of sabotage,” Ljungqvist said.
Prosecutors noted that the investigation is still ongoing to determine whether other crimes may have contributed to the cable break.
Navibulgar had denied any wrongdoing, stating that the Vezhen had been caught in severe weather conditions, which may have caused its left anchor to drag along the seabed, inadvertently damaging the cable.
Recent Undersea Cable Incidents Raise Geopolitical Concerns
The Baltic region has witnessed multiple incidents involving damaged undersea infrastructure, some of which have been linked to Russia’s shadow fleet—a network of ageing tankers with opaque ownership structures used to bypass Western sanctions.
Amid heightened tensions, Norwegian authorities last week inspected another vessel, Silver Dana, a Norwegian-owned but Russian-crewed ship, initially suspected of involvement in the cable rupture. After an investigation, Norwegian police found no evidence linking the vessel to the damage and released it.
While Swedish authorities have ruled out sabotage in this case, the incident underscores growing concerns over the vulnerability of undersea communication networks in an era of rising geopolitical tensions.
