Without identifying the perpetrator, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius stated that damage to two underwater cables in the Baltic Sea appears to be a “hybrid action” and an act of sabotage.
A 218-kilometer internet connection between Lithuania and Sweden’s Gotland Island ceased functioning on Sunday, and a 1,170-kilometer (730-mile) communications cable between Finland and Germany was cut off early Monday.A 1,170km (730-mile) telecommunications cable between Finland and Germany was severed in the early hours of Monday, while a 218km internet link between Lithuania and Sweden’s Gotland Island stopped working on Sunday.
accidentally.accidentally.accidentally.The incidents came at a time of heightened tension with Russia and Pistorius said “nobody believes that these cables were cut accidentally”.
Fears of sabotage have increased since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine due to a string of incidents involving Baltic pipelines.
actors.actors.actors.Germany and Finland have both said they are “deeply concerned” by the severing of the C-Lion1 communications cable, adding that Europe’s security is threatened by Russia’s war, “but also from hybrid warfare by malicious actors”.
force.force.force.Finnish telecoms and cyber security firm Cinia said its cable may have been severed “by an outside force”. Local media were informed by a spokesperson that “these types of breaks do not happen in these waters without an outside impact.”
According to Cinia’s CEO, the damage occurred near Oland Island in Sweden and could take anywhere from five to fifteen days to fix.Cinia’s chief executive said the damage had taken place close to Sweden’s Oland Island and could take five to 15 days to repair.
