Europe: Sabotage after cutting of internet cables in the Baltic Sea

Europe: Sabotage after cutting of internet cables in the Baltic Sea

European authorities are looking at Russia after two Sea cables in the Baltic Sea were suddenly disturbed. This disorder is considered a suspected sabotage campaign, just a few weeks after the United States had warned that Moscow probably critical Unterseeische infrastructures could be targeted.

incident in the Baltic Sea

an cable between Lithuania and Sweden reported as cut. The state Finnish telecommunications company Cinia announced separately that one of its cables that Finland connects with Germany was disturbed on Monday.

suspicion of sabotage

Although the exact causes of the incidents are still being examined, Germany's Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, who considers it likely to be sabotage. "Nobody believes that these cables were cut by chance," he said on Tuesday morning before a ministerial meeting in Brussels. "We have to recognize that, without knowing who is behind it, it is a hybrid action. We also have to assume that it is sabotage," added Pistorius.

Reactions of Foreign Minister

His comments followed on a common explanation The foreign minister of Finland and Germany Concerned ”about the cut cable between their countries. The possibility was also put in the room that the incident could be part of a "hybrid war".

hybrid warfare from Russia

"The fact that such an incident immediately raises suspicion of targeted damage speaks volumes about the unpredictability of our time. A comprehensive examination is in progress," the explanation continues. "Our European security is not only endangered by Russia's aggression war against Ukraine, but also through hybrid warfare of malicious actors."

preliminary warnings and incidents in Europe

European security authorities and experts have been warning for months that Russia is a hybrid war against the West. These allegations result from a number of apparently random arson attacks, cyber attacks and explosions that have been recorded in several European cities in the past few months.

The incidents include arson attacks on a bus depot in the Czech capital Prague, the museum in the crew in Riga , Latvia, a warehouse of a Ukrainian company in London and a shopping center in Warsaw, Poland.

In addition, several cyber attacks and espionage incidents were reported in various European countries. At the same time, the European Union of Russia and Belarus accused migration of migration as a weapon by pushing asylum seekers from third countries to their limits.

effects of the cable disorder

The range of the disorder caused by the damage to the cables remains unclear. Accidents that lead to damage to Unterse cables are rare, but can occur. For this reason, most providers operate their services over several different routes to avoid blackouts.

cinia explained that the connections via the C-Lion1 cable, which Helsinki connects with Rostock, were interrupted. Nevertheless, the company added that Finland's international telecommunications connections are led over several alternative links.

repair measures and restoration

The company said that a repair ship was sent to the scene of the accident. It was not yet known how long the problem would last, but it is usually expected to be a repair time of five to 15 days.

Andrius Šemškevičius, the Chief Technology Officer from Telia Lithuania, was quoted by Lithuanian media and explained that the disturbed cable-BCS East-West-handled about a third of Lithuania's internet capacity. He added that data traffic has been restored since the disorder.

Report by CNN: Stephanie Halasz, Billy Stockwell, Paul P. Murphy and Jim Sciutto.