Authorities have confirmed that the damage to the underwater communication cable between Gotland and Latvia at the end of January was not an act of sabotage. Instead, the break was caused by a mix of bad weather, equipment failures, and human error.
What happened?
On the night of January 26, as we reported, a key communication cable between Gotland and Latvia was damaged. The Bulgarian cargo ship Vezhen was stopped and searched by Swedish authorities as part of an investigation into possible sabotage. However, after a thorough examination, investigators have ruled out any intentional attack.
Senior prosecutor Mats Ljungqvist from Sweden’s National Unit for Security Cases explained in an official statement:
“The investigation now clearly shows that it is not a sabotage. It has been established that a combination of the weather and deficiencies in equipment and seamanship contributed to the cable break.”
Investigation continues
Since there is no evidence of sabotage, Swedish authorities have lifted their hold on the Vezhen, which had been anchored in Karlskrona. The ship is now free to leave Sweden. However, the investigation is still ongoing to check if any other laws were broken during the incident.
Mats Ljungqvist added:
“With the help of interrogations, seizures that have been made and analyzed, and crime scene investigations that have been conducted, we can say with certainty that this is not a sabotage. At the same time, we have been able to establish that it is the vessel that was seized that caused the cable break.”
Growing tensions in the Baltic Region
While the incident itself was accidental, it has heightened concerns about security in the Baltic region, particularly due to ongoing tensions with Russia following its invasion of Ukraine. The vulnerability of critical infrastructure, such as underwater cables, remains a key issue for NATO and its allies. In response to rising security risks, NATO has increased its presence in the Baltic Sea to deter potential threats and ensure regional stability.
