In late January 2025, Swedish authorities detained the Malta-flagged cargo ship Vezhen on suspicion of damaging an undersea fiber optic cable connecting Latvia and Sweden's Gotland island. The vessel was seized near the port of Karlskrona, with images suggesting one of its anchors had a broken arm. Swedish prosecutors have initiated an investigation into "aggravated sabotage."
Concurrently, Norwegian authorities, acting on a request from Latvian officials, detained the Norwegian-owned, Russian-crewed cargo ship Silver Dania in Tromsø. The vessel was suspected of involvement in the same cable damage incident. After thorough investigations, including searches and crew interviews, Norwegian police found no evidence linking the Silver Dania to the damage and subsequently released the ship.
Additionally, the Norwegian-flagged vessel Silver Sea was also detained as part of the investigation. Authorities examined the vessel for any potential involvement in the disruption of the critical infrastructure. However, no conclusive evidence has yet been made public.
These incidents have heightened concerns about the security of undersea infrastructure in the Baltic Sea region. NATO has responded by deploying patrol ships to the area and launching the "Baltic Sentry" mission, which includes frigates, maritime patrol aircraft, and naval drones to provide enhanced surveillance and deterrence. The alliance emphasizes the importance of protecting critical undersea infrastructure against potential threats.
The investigation into the cable damage is ongoing, with authorities from Latvia, Sweden, and NATO closely cooperating to determine the cause and prevent future incidents.
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