Baltic Cable Damage Likely Accidental, Not Russian Sabotage: WaPo

Western intelligence agencies now believe that damage to the Baltic Sea’s subsea power and communication cables resulted from accidents at sea, according to a report in the Washington Post citing officials from three Western nations.

According to a Sunday report in the Washington Post, citing US and European intelligence officials, recent damage to underwater infrastructure in the Baltic Sea was likely caused by maritime accidents, not Russian sabotage.

Western intelligence agencies are converging on the conclusion that a series of recent incidents affecting undersea infrastructure were accidental, with no evidence of malicious intent, the newspaper reported.

The intercepted communications and other classified intelligence gathered by Western nations suggest that these accidents were caused by poorly maintained vessels and inexperienced crews, according to officials from the three countries involved in the investigations.

US officials, speaking anonymously, told the newspaper that plausible explanations for each incident have emerged, indicating accidental damage. A European official stated that initial suspicions of Russian involvement are now contradicted by new evidence.

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