RIGA, Latvia — On Sunday evening, Swedish prosecutors declared the initiation of a preliminary probe into suspected aggravation of “sabotage” and mandated the detention of a ship in the Baltic Sea believed to have caused damage to an underwater fiber optic cable connecting Latvia with the Swedish island of Gotland.
Authorities including the National Police Operations Department, the Coast Guard, and the Armed Forces are collaborating on the investigation, as stated by Mats Ljungqvist, a senior prosecutor from the National Security Unit.
The Swedish Coast Guard confirmed their presence at the scene near a vessel, identified by the newspaper Expressen as the Malta-flagged ship Vezhen, which was anchored close to the port of Karlskrona.
“We are currently on site with the detained ship and are implementing the actions directed by the prosecutor,” commented Mattias Lindholm, representative of the Coast Guard.
Records from Vesselfinder indicate that the Vezhen had departed from the Russian port of Ust-Luga a few days earlier and was navigating the waters between Gotland and Latvia when the suspected damage occurred.
On Sunday, Latvia’s state-run radio and television center reported having noticed interruptions in data transmission on the cable from the town of Ventspils to Gotland, leading to the conclusion that a rupture had taken place.
The media outlet also noted that, while disruptions were occurring, they managed to use alternative data transmission routes while initiating measures to repair the cable.
Vineta Sprugaine, the head of corporate communications at LVRTC, was quoted by the LSM state broadcaster, stating, “Currently, there is a reason to believe that the cable has suffered significant damage due to external factors.”
Latvian Prime Minister Evika Sili?a remarked on X that her government was “cooperating with our Swedish allies and NATO to investigate the incident,” which includes patrolling the area and inspecting vessels that were present nearby.
Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson also addressed the situation on X, noting that at least one cable belonging to a “Latvian entity” appears to have been compromised and that he has maintained “close contact” with Sili?a throughout the day.
This recent cable rupture adds to a series of incidents that have escalated concerns regarding potential Russian sabotage and espionage activities in the strategically significant Baltic region. Previous reports indicated similar ruptures of data cables on the seabed, allegedly associated with Russia’s so-called shadow fleet, which consists of numerous aging tankers of questionable ownership evading sanctions while sustaining oil income for the country.
Earlier in the month, NATO launched a new operation known as “Baltic Sentry,” which includes frigates, maritime patrol aircraft, and a fleet of naval drones aimed at enhancing surveillance and deterrence in the Baltic Sea. This mission is specifically designed to safeguard undersea cables and pipelines in the region.
