A DHL flight has crashed – weeks after authorities warned of Russian parcel bombs on DHL flights.
Let's await the investigation.
But – our adversaries are already targeting companies. They need to ramp up their threat monitoring.https://t.co/blxerQ9lKy (Me @POLITICOEurope)
— Elisabeth Braw (@elisabethbraw) November 25, 2024
The Baltic Sea has become the latest flashpoint in tensions between Europe and Russia, as two submarine internet cables were disrupted in a suspected sabotage operation. European officials are pointing fingers at Russia just weeks after the United States warned about potential threats to critical undersea infrastructure. Telia Lithuania, which operates one of the affected links, and Finnish telecom company Cinia, which experienced issues with a cable connecting Finland and Germany, reported the disruptions.
Both countries have launched preliminary investigations into the suspected sabotage.
Stakes Rise in Baltic ‘Sabotage’ Standoff | "The West once again faces a choice after the latest apparent attack on its critical infrastructure. Any response will come at a high price." @elisabethbraw https://t.co/7iEoxrUbOi
— CEPA (@cepa) November 25, 2024
Germany’s Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said, “We have to know that, without knowing specifically who it came from, that it is a hybrid action and we also have to assume that this is sabotage.”
⚠️Here the latest on Yi Peng 3
👉 German and Swedish Coast Guards joined Danish patrol in vicinity of Yi Peng 3
👉 Sweden intends to follow the vessel when it departs
👉 Investigations launched in Germany, Sweden and Finland.@johnkonrad @mercoglianos https://t.co/a9FFbX8C7e pic.twitter.com/a3q1JCPRZ6— Malte Humpert (@malte_humpert) November 24, 2024
In a joint statement, the foreign ministers of Finland and Germany expressed “deep concern” about the severed cable, suggesting the incident might be part of a hybrid warfare strategy. They emphasized the need for a thorough investigation and noted the broader threat to European security.
"Two undersea internet cables were severed in the span of 24 hours earlier this week – and European governments suspect a Chinese vessel is responsible… A cargo carrier, Yi Peng 3, was in the vicinity of both cables at the time that they were damaged."https://t.co/dbcWvu9vhR
— Indo-Pacific Defense FORUM (@IPDefenseForum) November 25, 2024
However, two US officials familiar with an initial assessment said that there were no indications of intentional damage and suggested the disruption was likely due to an anchor dragged by a passing vessel. Tracking data did not show any ships in the vicinity, though military and illicit vessels often turn off their tracking systems. This latest incident fits a pattern of suspected Russian interest in undersea cables.
Russian espionage vessels have previously been spotted near critical maritime infrastructure.
Suspicion over Baltic Sea cable sabotage
In April 2023, a report by public broadcasters in Nordic countries indicated that Russia had deployed spy ships in Nordic waters for potential sabotage.
Rod Thornton, a senior lecturer in defense studies at King’s College London, highlighted that Russia might be using such acts to exert pressure without provoking a full-scale conflict with NATO, which could have disastrous consequences for Russia. “Russia is trying to cause disruption without crossing the threshold that would trigger a forceful response from NATO,” he said. Oleksandr V.
Danylyuk, an associate fellow at the Royal United Services Institute and a former Ukrainian defense official, explained that this kind of deniability has been a long-standing Russian strategy, allowing them to destabilize without clear attribution. The extent of the disruption caused by the damaged cables is unclear. Most service providers have multiple routes to prevent blackouts.
The limited disruption might have been a calculated move, serious enough to signal escalation but not to trigger uncontrollable repercussions. Cinia mentioned in a statement that services through its affected cable were down yet reassured that Finland’s international telecommunication connections were rerouted through multiple links. The company is currently undertaking repair efforts.
