A “suspicious vessel” identified
“Based on current findings, we presume that the cable was significantly damaged by external factors,” the company said in a statement. “LVRTC has initiated criminal procedural actions.”
In the process, Riga deployed a warship to the site of the damage, specifying that it had identified a “suspicious ship”, the Michalis San, as well as two other ships, in the area. The Michalis San was en route to Russia, according to maritime tracking sites. “We have a warship that patrols the Baltic Sea constantly, day and night, and which allowed us to deploy quickly as soon as we became aware of the damage,” said Latvian Navy Commander Maris Polencs , during a press conference.
The damage took place in Swedish territorial waters at a depth of at least 50 meters, according to Latvian officials. “I have been in close contact with my Latvian colleague Prime Minister Evika Silina throughout the day,” Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said on X, reporting at least one damaged cable. “Sweden, Latvia and NATO are cooperating closely on this matter. Sweden will provide the necessary capabilities” for the purposes of the investigation, he added. Countries bordering the Baltic Sea are working to strengthen their defenses after the alleged sabotage of several submarine cables this fall and winter.
EU “total solidarity”
Faced with the repeated nature of these events, NATO announced in January that it was launching a patrol mission aimed at protecting these underwater infrastructures. Planes, boats and drones will be dispatched there.
On Sunday, the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, immediately expressed her “total solidarity” with the countries affected by the damage to the Latvian cable. “The resilience and security of our critical infrastructure is an absolute priority,” she stressed on the social network X.
-The consequences seem limited for the moment. “Disruptions in data transmission services” have occurred, the LVRTC said. Alternative solutions have been found, and end users will be largely unaffected, the center added.
On December 25, the EstLink 2 power cable, connecting Finland and Estonia, and four other telecommunications cables were damaged, just weeks after similar damage to two telecommunications cables in Swedish waters.
Cable sabotage in the Baltic: seven sailors targeted by investigation and banned from traveling
