Baltic Sea Cable Damaged; Swedish Authorities Detain Bulgarian Ship

A fiber optic cable between Sweden and Latvia was damaged, prompting an investigation into possible sabotage involving a Bulgarian vessel.

A fiber optic cable connecting Sweden's Gotland island to Latvia's Ventspils was significantly damaged on January 26, reportedly by 'external factors.'
Swedish authorities intercepted and detained the Bulgarian ship 'Vezhen,' suspecting its involvement in the incident, though the ship's operator denies any malicious intent.
The incident is part of a series of recent attacks on undersea infrastructure in the Baltic Sea, which experts link to alleged 'hybrid warfare' tactics by Russia.
NATO has launched a patrolling mission in January to safeguard critical undersea infrastructure, deploying aircraft, ships, and drones in the region.
While the damage caused temporary data transmission disruptions, alternative solutions have been implemented, minimizing impact on end users.