Swedish prosecutors introduced an initial survey on an annoying suspicious sabotage after an underwater fiber optic cable that connects to Latvia and Gotland island broke out significantly on Sunday.
The investigation has intensified the fears of Russian sabotage in the Baltic, after a series of incidents in the critical infrastructure of the region.
The government owned the Malta Tienco Safe ship, which near the cable at the time of suspicion of damage. Mats Ljungqvist, the main prosecutor of the National Security Unit in Sweden, showed that the case dealt with the comments of several agencies, in the National Police Department, the Coast Guard and the Armed Forces.
Mattias Lindholm, spokesman for the Swedish Coast Guard, said: “We are directly in the place with the seized sending and taking measures through the prosecutor. “
According to Vessefindernder ships follow-up, Vezhen from the Russian Port of UST-Luga several days before and sailed between Gotland and Latvia when hurt occurred.
Public radio and medium public television through Latvia (LVRTC) have detected disturbances in the cable that connect the wind winds with Gotland and has shown a break. Vineta Sprugaine, director of corporate communications at LVRTC, said: “At the moment, there are reasons for the cable to hurt significantly and that pain is caused through external influences. “
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Latvian Prime Minister Evika Siliņa has called for a thorough investigation, emphasising cooperation with Swedish authorities and NATO allies. Writing on X, she said: “We are working together with our Swedish allies and NATO on investigating the incident, patrolling the area, and inspecting vessels in the vicinity.” Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson echoed these concerns, adding that he has been in close contact with Siliņa.
Sunday’s rupture is the latest in a series of incidents that have raised alarms over potential Russian sabotage targeting vital infrastructure in the Baltic Sea. NATO has expressed growing concern about the vulnerability of undersea cables and pipelines in the region, which play a critical role in communication, energy supply, and national security.
Earlier this month, NATO launched a new mission, “Baltic Sentry,” to enhance surveillance and deterrence in the Baltic Sea. The operation includes frigates, maritime patrol aircraft, and naval drones, with a focus on protecting undersea assets.
The latest incident also follows reports of disturbance of other underwater survey cables in the region, allegedly connected to Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet. “This fleet is made up of a bunch of aging oils with opaque property, accused of avoiding sanctions while supporting Russian oil revenues. These ships were proven to be potentially involved in sabotage under the canopy of advertising operations.
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Baltic has a hot point of geopolitical tensions, with an increasingly underwater infrastructure in the grid. The sabotage of the Nord Stream pipes in September 2022 recalled the vulnerabilities of the region.
The explosions, which caused significant pains in the pipes that connect to Russia with Europe, remain a point of discussion, since Western officials greatly suspected Russian participation. Although definitive conclusions have not been drawn, the attack marked a turning point in the Baltic Safety Landscape, highlighting how the critical infrastructure can be armed in the dark sand of the hybrid war.
The pain in the Latvia-Gotland cable still underscores those vulnerabilities.
Unlike pipelines, undersea cables are harder to monitor due to their extensive length, relatively shallow depth in parts of the Baltic, and reliance on civilian rather than military oversight.
Experts warn that Russia could exploit these weak points in its broader strategy of hybrid warfare, using sabotage and espionage to sow uncertainty and exert pressure on NATO allies.
Russia’s activity in the Baltic has been under scrutiny for years, particularly regarding its fleet movements and submarine operations.
Earlier this year, Danish and Swedish investigators flagged suspicious movements of Russian-flagged vessels near the site of the Nord Stream explosions, fueling speculation about Moscow’s involvement.
In the same way, the recent knowledge of satellite images and the monitoring of the vessels have shown erratic habit through vessels linked to Russians in the vicinity of underwater infrastructure, adding long stops in places and abrupt adjustments in progress.
The participation of the time, a shipment connected to the Russian ports, has fed additional suspicions. Well, no official link was established between shipping and Russian state actors, their presence near the damaged cable raises vital questions.
The fact that the cable was damaged in international waters, yet in a strategically sensitive area for NATO, adds a layer of complexity to the investigation.
Carl Bergstrom, a Swedish security officer at the Defense University, said: “The Baltic Sea is a high-risk environment.
“The proximity of critical infrastructure with the Russian territory, combined with the strategic importance of the region for NATO, makes it a privileged objective for secret operations. Sabotage of submarine cables can interrupt communication, savings and undermine trust in protection guarantees. “
In addition to the Baltic Sentry, individual Member States accentuate their own defences. Finland and Estonia have invested in complex underwater surveillance technology, while Sweden has higher naval patrols. Latvia and Lithuania have also called for closer cooperation between Baltic nations to monitor and critical assets.
The damage to the Latvia-Gotland cable highlights the demanding non-stop situations of securing critical infrastructure at a time of heightened geopolitical tensions. Although the cable itself would not possibly bear the same symbolic weight as the northern stream pipes, its alteration has genuine consequences, either economically or politically.
For Latvia, the cable serves as a very important link with Sweden and the broader European network. Disruptions to these links not only communication and knowledge flows, but also disseminate vulnerabilities that adversaries can exploit. Strain to demonstrate your ability to ensure your own infrastructure while controlling collective security in the Baltic.
For Russia, these incidents serve as a reminder of its ability to project power beyond traditional military means.
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