An undersea fiber optic cable between Latvia and Sweden was damaged Sunday, likely due to “external influence,” Latvian public broadcaster LSM reported, citing the affected cable operator and Latvian State Radio and Television Centre (LVRTC).
The Latvian navy sent a patrol to inspect a vessel possibly involved in causing the damage and is contact with NATO allies, per LSM. Two other vessels in the area were also subject to investigation.
“We have determined that there is most likely external damage and that it is significant,” Latvian Prime Minister Evika Siliņa told reporters following an extraordinary government meeting, Reuters reported.
“We are working together with our Swedish allies and NATO on investigating the incident, including to patrolling the area, as well as inspecting the vessels that were in the area,” Siliņa said on social media network X. “Authorities have intensified information exchange and started criminal investigation.”
This is the latest in a recent spate of incidents involving damage to subsea energy and data cables that has prompted NATO to ramp up its work on detecting and stopping attacks against cables in the Baltic Sea.
Finland in December opened a criminal investigation into the potential involvement of Russia’s so-called shadow fleet in breaking an undersea power cable between Finland and Estonia on Christmas Day.
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