Two key undersea internet cables in the Baltic Sea were severed in separate incidents, disrupting communication links between Finland, Germany, Lithuania, and Sweden. Authorities are investigating whether the damage was accidental or the result of sabotage, amid growing concerns about regional security.
The first disruption involved the C-Lion1 cable, a 1,200-kilometer fiber optic connection between Helsinki, Finland, and Rostock, Germany. The cable stopped functioning early Monday, with Finnish telecom operator Cinia suspecting external interference. This cable serves as the only direct link between Finland and Central Europe. Finnish and German officials have expressed concerns over possible hybrid warfare, citing Russia’s history of targeting critical infrastructure.
The second cable, linking Lithuania and Sweden, was severed near Sweden’s Öland island on Sunday. Telia Lithuania confirmed physical damage and noted that repairs could take up to 15 days. The two incidents occurred roughly 100 kilometers apart, raising questions about potential connections between the events.
These disruptions follow recent warnings from the United States about increased Russian activity around undersea cables and reflect ongoing fears of sabotage in the Baltic region, where vital internet, energy, and communication infrastructure converge.
