Swedish authorities are investigating potential sabotage after damage was discovered on an undersea telecoms cable in the Baltic Sea, connecting Germany and Finland. The Swedish coastguard dispatched a research vessel east of Gotland, Sweden’s largest island, where the damage was reported.
Sweden’s Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson acknowledged the cable break, stating it must be viewed within the context of the current security climate. The cable’s owner, Finnish telecom company Cinia, confirmed the fibre-optic cable sustained minor damage but continues to function normally. This marks the third incident involving the cable in recent months, with a previous severing reported in November 2023.
Swedish police announced that the preliminary investigation involves suspected sabotage. However, the coastguard stated that the exact timing of the damage remains unclear. A coastguard vessel, KBV 003, is currently assisting with the crime scene investigation within Sweden’s economic zone.
The incident comes amid growing concerns over damage to undersea infrastructure in the Baltic Sea, particularly since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. NATO launched a monitoring mission in the region last month in response to a series of suspected attacks on undersea cables and gas pipelines.
While European leaders have raised suspicions of Russian involvement in previous breaches, some incidents have been attributed to civilian ships accidentally dragging anchors across cables. Earlier this month, Swedish authorities cleared the Bulgarian vessel Vezhen of any wrongdoing in a separate incident involving cable damage.
The investigation remains ongoing as authorities seek to determine the cause of the latest damage and assess potential security implications for the region.
