SWEDISH authorities have seized a ship suspected of causing damage to underwater data cables which sparked sabotage fears.
A Maltese-flagged ship – The Vezhen – was taken after officials suspected “external influence” ruined the strategically crucial cables in the Baltic Sea.
The damaged data cable connected the Latvian town of Ventspils with the Swedish island Gotland.
Gotland is strategically crucial for Nato due to its position in the Baltic Sea – near Russia‘s two eastern zones – and its potential use as a military zone or base.
A frantic investigation was launched into the suspicious incident, which happened in the politically fraught area on Sunday.
Prosecutors revealed their initial search pointed to “aggravated sabotage”.
Latvia‘s Prime Minister, Evika Silina, suggested the cause of this suspected attack was external.
A Bulgarian shipping company that owned the seized ship, Navigation Maritime Bulgare, alleged the cable damage was an accident.
This vessel had sailed from Ust-Luga, a Russian oil exporting port in the Leningrad region.
On Monday, the business claimed an anchor from The Vezhen dropped to the sea floor during high winds and said the incident was not intentional, in a statement.
The company’s boss said: “They (the crew) have been instructed to assist authorities and the situation never escalated and it is calm at the moment.”
Images circling on Swedish media reportedly appear to show the ship’s anchor in a damaged condition.
On Sunday, Latvia’s military reported that three ships were seen in the area at the time and the other two were also being investigated.
Despite this, thousands of vessels typically pass through the Baltic Sea daily.
The cable’s owner, Latvian broadcaster LVRTC, revealed the incident had resulted in some damage to its data transmission services but added services would resume mostly as normal.
Fears into Russia potentially being behind this attack have bene floated by an expert.
Dr. Salvatore R. Mercogliano, a maritime historian at Campbell University in North Carolina, claimed this theory could be likely.
The expert said: “While I think you can have an accidental anchor drop….it does happen.”
“But the idea that you’ve had four over this short period of time, all in the Baltic, is extremely unlikely.
“What is more likely here is that the Russian intelligence services are paying a member of the crew to drop this.”
Even the leader of another Baltic nation suggested this incident could have been intentional.
Estonia’s Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna said: “I don’t believe in coincidences when it comes to frequent cases of damage to underwater infrastructure in the Baltic Sea.”
The shock incident came just days after Russia accused Nato ships of “abuses” in the Baltic Sea, during the group’s patrols of the area.
Nato started new patrol missions in the politically tense sea – less than a month ago – after several apparent underwater power and telecom cable attacks were reported.
Some of these disruptive suspected attacks have been blamed on Russia.
Mark Rutte – Nato’s chief – revealed these journeys would use warships, drones, and even aircraft.
The group has not placed the blame on Russia but it added that Moscow’s “shadow fleet” would be monitored.
SNEAKY SHIPS
This suspected attack has not been the first vessel incident to spark fears in the Baltic Sea.
Finnish cops stormed a Russian oil tanker filled with “spy gear” in the area, in December 2024.
This ship was also suspected of cutting a deep sea cable.
Authorities accused the tanker, named Eagle S, of dragging its anchor to rupture the Estlink 2 power link between Finland and Estonia.
Finnish cops said they found tracks along the bottom of the Baltic Sea where a tanker had sailed.
This vessel is registered to the Cook Islands but is believed to operate as part of Putin’s “dark” fleet to avoid detection and sanctions.
