BERLIN — According to Germany’s defense minister, it is essential to consider that the damage to two underwater data cables in the Baltic Sea, one of which connects to Germany, may be a result of sabotage, despite the absence of tangible evidence at this moment.

On Monday, damage was reported to the C-Lion1 cable, which stretches nearly 1,200 kilometers (750 miles) from Helsinki, Finland, to Rostock, a port city in Germany. In addition, another cable linking Lithuania to Sweden also suffered damage.

While speaking in Brussels, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius expressed concerns about the hybrid threats posed by Russia, emphasizing that Europe must adopt a comprehensive approach to its defense strategies. He remarked that the cable damage serves as a “very clear sign that something is afoot.”

Pistorius stated, “It is widely accepted that these cables were not damaged inadvertently. I find it hard to believe that they were simply caught by anchors by chance.” This statement was made during a routine meeting of European Union defense ministers.

He added, “We must acknowledge—albeit without concrete evidence of who is responsible—that this represents a hybrid action. We must proceed under the assumption that this is an act of sabotage, even if we lack immediate proof.”

Earlier on Monday, the foreign ministries of both Finland and Germany noted that the damage raised suspicions of deliberate sabotage. In a joint statement, they highlighted that this incident occurs at a time when “European security is threatened not only by Russia’s aggressive actions in Ukraine but also by hybrid warfare from hostile actors.”

The statement emphasized the importance of investigating the incident thoroughly and stated that it is vital to protect such critical infrastructure from future threats.