Swedish authorities are investigating a suspected sabotage of an underwater fiber optic cable connecting Latvia and the Swedish island of Gotland. The investigation involves the National Police Operations Department, the Coast Guard, and the Armed Forces, as stated by senior prosecutor Mats Ljungqvist.
A vessel flagged under Malta, named Vezhen, has been detained in the Baltic Sea. The Swedish Coast Guard is currently overseeing the situation, with spokesperson Mattias Lindholm confirming, "We are directly on site with the seized ship and are taking measures as decided by the prosecutor." The ship had recently traveled from Russia's Ust-Luga port and was between Gotland and Latvia when the damage is believed to have occurred.
Latvia's state-operated radio and TV center, LVRTC, has reported interruptions in data transmission and identified a rupture in the cable running from Ventspils to Gotland. Head of corporate communications Vineta Sprugaine noted, "At the moment, there is reason to believe that the cable is significantly damaged and that the damage is caused by external influences." The organization is using alternate routes for data transmission while repairs are underway.
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Latvian Prime Minister Evika Silina announced cooperation with Swedish allies and NATO to investigate the incident, stating they are "working together...including patrolling the area, as well as inspecting the vessels that were in the area." Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson also acknowledged potential damage to a cable owned by a "Latvian entity" and mentioned ongoing discussions with Silina. (This story was generated by Newser's AI chatbot. Source: the AP)
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