The Mysterious Disruption of Undersea Internet Cables in the Baltic Sea
Two undersea internet cables in the Baltic Sea have been suddenly disrupted, according to local telecommunications companies, amid fresh warnings of possible Russian interference with global undersea infrastructure.
Disruption of Communication Links
A communications cable between Lithuania and Sweden was cut on Sunday morning local time, a spokesperson from telecommunications company Telia Lithuania confirmed. The company’s monitoring systems detected the cut due to traffic disruption, and the cause was likely physical damage to the cable itself.
Another cable linking Finland and Germany was also disrupted, according to Cinia, the state-controlled Finnish company that runs the link. The C-Lion cable, spanning nearly 1200km, is the only direct connection of its kind between Finland and Central Europe, alongside other critical infrastructure such as gas pipelines and power cables.
The area that was disrupted along the Finnish-German cable is approximately 100km away from the Lithuanian-Swedish cable that was cut, as analyzed by CNN of the undersea routes.
Investigating the Cause
Cinia stated that it is still investigating the issue of the fault in the C-Lion cable. A physical inspection has not yet been conducted, but the company’s chief executive, Ari-Jussi Knaapila, mentioned in a press conference that the sudden outage implied external force cutting the cable.
Fears of Undersea Sabotage
The incidents follow recent warnings from the US about increased Russian military activity around key undersea cables. In September, US officials expressed concerns about potential sabotage operations on critical infrastructure by Russia.
A joint investigation by the public broadcasters of Sweden, Denmark, Norway, and Finland reported in April 2023 that Russia had a fleet of suspected spy ships operating in Nordic waters as part of a program of potential sabotage of underwater cables and wind farms in the region.
European Response to the Incident
The foreign ministers of Finland and Germany issued a joint statement expressing deep concern about the severed C-Lion cable and raised the possibility of “hybrid warfare.” They emphasized the need for a thorough investigation to address security threats posed by intentional damage to critical infrastructure.
“Our European security is not only under threat from Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, but also from hybrid warfare by malicious actors,” the statement highlighted.
Conclusion
The disruption of undersea internet cables in the Baltic Sea has raised significant concerns about potential sabotage and security threats to global communication networks. As investigations continue, the international community remains vigilant in safeguarding critical infrastructure against external interference.
FAQ
What caused the disruption of the undersea cables?
The exact cause of the disruption is still under investigation, with suspicions of intentional damage by external forces.
How are countries responding to the incident?
Countries like Finland and Germany are deeply concerned and are conducting thorough investigations to address security threats posed by potential sabotage of undersea infrastructure.