The Baltic Sea Region on High Alert: A Series of Undersea Cable and Pipeline Outages
The Baltic Sea region has been on high alert since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, with a string of power cable, telecom link, and gas pipeline outages. The NATO military alliance has increased its presence in the region with frigates, aircraft, and naval drones to ensure security.
February 2025: Finland-Germany Telecom Cable
Swedish and Finnish police are investigating a suspected case of sabotage of an undersea telecoms cable in the Baltic Sea. The C-Lion1 link connecting Finland and Germany has been damaged multiple times in recent months, with no suspects identified yet. The European Commission has pledged nearly a billion euros to enhance surveillance of cables and establish emergency repair capabilities.
January 2025: Sweden-Latvia Telecom Cable
An undersea fiber optic cable between Latvia and Sweden malfunctioned in January, leading to investigations by NATO and local police. The Maltese-flagged vessel Vezhen was initially suspected of causing the damage but was later cleared of any deliberate sabotage. The incident highlighted the vulnerability of undersea cables to accidental damage.
December 2024: Power and Internet Cables
The Estlink 2 undersea power cable between Finland and Estonia was damaged along with four telecoms lines in December. The seizure of the Eagle S tanker, suspected of causing the damage, shed light on the challenges of enforcing maritime regulations in the region. Russia denied involvement in the incidents, despite suspicions of a “shadow fleet” circumventing sanctions.
November 2024: Baltic Telecom Cables
In November, two undersea fiber-optic communications cables in the Baltic Sea were severed, raising suspicions of sabotage. The Chinese bulk carrier Yi Peng 3 was implicated in the incidents, leading to a diplomatic standoff and joint investigations involving multiple countries. The incident underscored the geopolitical tensions in the region.
October 2023: Balticconnector Gas Pipe and Cables
The Balticconnector gas pipeline between Finland and Estonia was severed by a Chinese container vessel, Newnew Polar Bear, in 2023. The incident also damaged telecoms cables connecting Estonia to Finland and Sweden, highlighting the interconnectedness of critical infrastructure in the region. Estonia’s dissatisfaction with China’s response to the investigations further escalated tensions.
September 2022: Nord Stream Blasts
The Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 pipelines, built by Russia’s Gazprom to transport gas to Germany, were damaged in explosions in September 2022. Investigations revealed traces of explosives, indicating deliberate sabotage. Accusations and denials from various countries, including Russia, the United States, Britain, and Ukraine, further complicated the situation.
As the Baltic Sea region grapples with these security challenges, international cooperation and enhanced surveillance are crucial to safeguarding critical infrastructure and maintaining stability in the area.