They Are Investigating a New Damaged Submarine Cable in the Baltic, and There Are Immense Concerns.

Swedish authorities are investigating possible damage to an underwater cable in the Baltic Sea, an incident that adds to a series of similar cases in the region, raising concerns about possible acts of sabotage linked to Russia.

The recent break of the C-Lion 1 cable, which connects Finland with Germany, was detected near the Swedish island of Gotland. According to the Finnish operator Cinia, although the cable suffered a "disturbance," data traffic has not been interrupted, and the origin of the damage is still being investigated.

This incident follows another that occurred in November 2024, when the same cable was cut, and at that time it was suspected that a Chinese vessel, the Yi Peng 3, might have been responsible for dragging an anchor across the seabed, causing the damage.

Additionally, in November 2024, damage was reported to another underwater cable connecting Lithuania and Sweden, and shortly after, Finland reported that another cable, the Estlink 2, which connects Finland and Germany, had also been damaged.

These events occurred in a context of increasing Russian military activity near key underwater cables, raising concerns about possible acts of sabotage.

On December 25, 2024, Estonia reported failures in three additional underwater cables between Estonia and Finland, and investigations pointed to the possible involvement of a tanker operated under the Cook Islands flag, part of what is known as Russia's "ghost fleet," a network of vessels evading international sanctions.

Subsequently, on December 27, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte stated that the Alliance would increase its presence in the area, given the growing threat.

In January 2025, the Washington Post reported that the security services of the United States and Europe considered the damage to the cables in the Baltic Sea to be more accidental, rather than the result of Russian sabotage operations.

However, on January 26, Latvia's national broadcasting center (LVRTC) reported damage to another underwater fiber optic cable, suggesting that ships from Russia's ghost fleet might have been involved.

The latest incident, which occurred on January 19, 2025, prompted Swedish authorities to open a preliminary investigation into possible acts of sabotage.

Swedish police spokesman Mathias Rutegard confirmed that the damage occurred within Sweden's economic zone, east of Gotland, and the Swedish Coast Guard sent a ship to assist in the investigation of the site.

Although no suspect has been identified so far, Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson stated that the government is closely monitoring the situation and treated the incident seriously, emphasizing that it should be considered within the context of the current serious security situation.

The European Commission, meanwhile, announced on January 19 that it would take measures to strengthen the security of underwater cables, prioritizing funding for the deployment of advanced cables and improving rapid repair capabilities.

Additionally, it committed to imposing sanctions against "hostile actors" and vessels associated with Russia's ghost fleet, which is believed to be involved in illicit activities in the region.

This series of incidents has heightened concerns about the security of critical infrastructure in the Baltic Sea, especially in a growing context of geopolitical tensions between Russia and Western countries, due to the war against Ukraine.

The protection of underwater cables, which are essential for global communications and trade, has become a priority for European authorities, who are closely monitoring potential sabotage risks and the implications they could have for regional stability.