In a startling development, Swedish prosecutors have launched an investigation into a potential act of sabotage after an underwater fiber optic cable connecting Latvia and Gotland was damaged. This suspected incident has involved key Swedish authorities who have detained a vessel in the Baltic Sea.
Mats Ljungqvist, a senior prosecutor at Sweden's National Security Unit, confirmed that multiple agencies, including the National Police Operations Department, Coast Guard, and Armed Forces, are participating in the ongoing investigation.
The Swedish Coast Guard has positioned its personnel near the Malta-flagged vessel Vezhen, anchored close to Karlskrona's port. Our team is directly on site, executing the prosecutor's decisions, stated Coast Guard spokesperson Mattias Lindholm.
Reports reveal that Vezhen had embarked from Russia's Ust-Luga port a few days before, with its route taking it between Gotland and Latvia—coinciding with the timeline when the fiber cable was compromised.
Latvia's state-controlled radio and TV hub reported data disruption along the cable linking Ventspils and Gotland. Vineta Sprugaine from the LVRTC communicated that there is strong evidence pointing to external forces as the cause of the cable damage, as broadcast by LSM.
Latvian Prime Minister Evika Siliņa highlighted her government's collaborative efforts with Sweden and NATO to thoroughly inspect vessels in the vicinity of the occurrence.
Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson also noted the involvement of NATO, confirming the damage to one of the cables owned by a Latvian entity. He mentioned that he has maintained consistent communication with Prime Minister Siliņa during these developments.
This event occurs amidst an escalating concern over potential cases of Russian sabotage and intelligence activities in this strategically significant region. In recent times, previous instances have been reported of cable ruptures on the Baltic seabed, allegedly connected to Russian operations maintaining energy revenue channels through evasive shadow fleets.
NATO has inaugurated a new mission, Baltic Sentry, which entails deploying frigates, maritime aircraft, and naval drones aimed at enhancing vigilance and security over crucial undersea cables and pipelines, safeguarding against similar threats in the future.
The unfolding investigation stands as a testament to the delicate balance of monitoring and protecting vital infrastructure connecting nations in the Baltic region, as international allies closely follow the developments in this critical security matter.
