The damage to telecommunications cables in the Baltic Sea was likely accidental rather than a result of deliberate Russian sabotage.
This view is becoming a consensus among European and U.S. intelligence agencies, The Washington Postreports, citing senior officials from three countries involved in the investigations.
Officials stated that investigations have so far uncovered no evidence suggesting that ships dragging anchors along the seabed did so intentionally or under orders from Moscow. The evidence collected indicates the incidents were caused by “inexperienced crews” and poor vessel maintenance.
Finnish intelligence largely agrees with the conclusions of allied agencies, according to the report. However, Finland’s National Bureau of Investigation officially stated that the inquiry is still ongoing, and it is “too early” to draw definitive conclusions.
Over the past 18 months, three telecommunications cables have been damaged in the Baltic Sea. The incidents occurred in October 2023 and in October and November 2024.
The tanker Eagle S, which allegedly severed a cable in December 2024, has been detained by Finnish authorities, with several crew members prohibited from leaving the country. The vessel responsible for the 2023 incident was owned by a Chinese company, prompting China to conduct its own investigation. Beijing concluded that the incident was accidental.
