An undersea fibre optic cable between Latvia and Sweden was damaged on Sunday, likely as a result of external influence, said Latvia. In response, NATO deployed patrol ships to the area and Swedish authorities launched a sabotage investigation.
A senior prosecutor was quoted as saying that the prosecution was carrying out several investigative measures, but that he could not disclose what those measures consisted of due to an ongoing preliminary investigation.
The Latvia Navy dispatched patrol boats to investigate the incident and NATO is working with national resources from the Baltic Sea countries to investigate and respond to the situation.
The damaged cable is important for communications services and was heavily used, however, providers have been able to switch to alternative transmission routes to minimize disruptions. The exact cause of the damage will be determined once repair work begins.
According to Latvian Prime Minister Evika Silina, “We have determined that there is most likely external damage and that it is significant.” The Finnish Prime Minister commented on the latest incident, noting that it highlighted the need for increased protection of critical undersea infrastructure in the Baltic Sea.
