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According to authorities in Sweden, they are investigating another suspected act of sabotage after discovering damage to an undersea cable in the Baltic Sea.
Some shit you should know before you read: In 2024, there was a notable uptick in incidents involving damage to undersea cables in the Baltic Sea, raising concerns over deliberate sabotage. Several cases were linked to ships purposely dragging their anchors across the seabed, severing critical communication lines. One prominent example involved a Russian-linked vessel suspected of intentionally cutting a cable between Estonia and Finland in early 2024, a case that remains under investigation to this day. These underwater cables are vital for transmitting internet data, military communications, and media services, making them critical infrastructure for both civilian and defense purposes.
What’s going on: According to Swedish officials, they located damage on the C-Lion1 cable near the island of Gotland, within Sweden’s economic zone in the Baltic Sea. The cable, which connects Germany and Finland, is owned by Finnish telecom operator Cinia and is crucial for linking Central Europe with the Nordic countries. According to Cinia, the damage is minor and the cable remains operational. Despite this, it marks the third incident affecting the C-Lion1 line in recent months, with previous disruptions occurring in November and December.
Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson stressed the seriousness of the situation, stating, “This must be seen in the context of the serious security situation that prevails.” Finnish Interior Minister Mari Rantanen added that authorities are investigating the cause and said, “The possibility of an accident is very small.”
This all comes as NATO ramps up its military presence in the Baltic Sea, launching a new patrol and surveillance operation named Baltic Sentry to protect critical infrastructure. This initiative follows a series of similar incidents involving undersea cables and pipelines, which have raised concerns about potential Russian/Chinese espionage or sabotage.
Russia has consistently denied accusations related to sabotage incidents involving underwater sea cables, often dismissing them as Western propaganda.
