Swedish authorities have seized a ship suspected of damaging an undersea fiber optic cable connecting Sweden and Latvia, launching a criminal investigation into possible sabotage.
The Swedish Prosecution Authority announced late Sunday that they have confiscated the vessel but did not disclose its name or nationality. According to Swedish newspaper Expressen, the ship is the oil tanker Vezhen, registered in Malta and sailing from Russia. Maritime analytics provider Marine Traffic confirmed that the vessel is currently anchored off Karlskrona in southeastern Sweden.
The Latvian State Radio and Television Center (LVRTC), which owns the cable, reported disruptions in data transmission early Sunday. They suspect the cable was seriously damaged by external forces within the Swedish economic zone. Despite the interruption, LVRTC assured the public that internet services would continue via alternative routes. They noted that the exact nature of the damage would be determined once repairs commence, as the cable lies more than 50 meters deep on the seabed.
Latvian Prime Minister Evika Silina convened an emergency meeting with ministers and emergency services to address the incident. She announced that Latvia is collaborating with North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) allies and Baltic Sea countries to investigate. The Latvian naval forces have dispatched a patrol boat to inspect the site and have reached out to NATO allies for assistance.
Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson confirmed communication with Prime Minister Silina on the matter. He promised that Sweden would provide “important resources for the investigation,” emphasizing the need for regional cooperation in ensuring the security of critical infrastructure.
This incident adds to a series of recent disruptions affecting undersea internet and energy cables in the Baltic Sea, raising concerns over the safety and security of essential communication links in the region.
