Following damage to a subsea cable linking Sweden and Latvia, Swedish authorities have apprehended a vessel.
Sweden and Latvia have reported another suspected act of undersea cable sabotage in the Baltic Sea. A vessel potentially linked to the incident is in Swedish custody. Although past similar incidents prompted speculation about Russian involvement, no evidence has been presented, with some attributing the damage to accidents rather than deliberate actions.
On Sunday, Latvian Prime Minister Krišjānis Kariņš stated that a vital undersea fiber optic cable connecting Latvia and Sweden’s Gotland island was damaged, characterizing the cause as “most likely external.”
Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson confirmed the incident, noting that Sweden, Latvia, and NATO are collaborating on the investigation. The cable, owned by Latvia’s state radio and television center (LVRTC), has experienced service disruptions.
The Swedish Security Service classified the event as “aggravated sabotage” and confirmed the detention of a ship as part of their preliminary investigation. Although the vessel’s name remains undisclosed by Swedish officials, reports indicate it is the Malta-flagged Vezhen, recently departing from Russia’s Ust-Luga port, and operating near Gotland and Latvia when the incident occurred.
This is the latest in a series of incidents impacting undersea infrastructure in the Baltic Sea. In December, Finnish authorities detained the oil tanker Eagle S, suspected of damaging the Estlink 2 power transmission cable between Finland and Estonia.
Amid growing concerns regarding the security of critical undersea infrastructure, NATO launched Operation Baltic Sentry earlier this month, enhancing naval and drone patrols in the region.
While speculation regarding Russian involvement has persisted, no concrete evidence has been found, and Western nations have avoided making direct accusations.
The Washington Post, citing Western intelligence sources, reported that the damage may be attributable to maritime accidents involving poorly maintained ships and inexperienced crews, rather than intentional sabotage. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov dismissed allegations of Moscow’s involvement, stating “it is quite absurd to continue to blame Russia for everything without any reason.”