European officials are investigating after two undersea internet cables in the Baltic Sea were severed in incidents widely suspected to be sabotage. The disruptions have heightened concerns over vulnerabilities in critical infrastructure, with suspicion turning toward Russia.

A cable linking Lithuania and Sweden was cut on Sunday, according to Telia Lithuania, while Finland’s state-controlled telecoms company, Cinia, reported damage to its cable connecting Finland and Germany on Monday.

Swedish and Finnish authorities have opened investigations into the incidents, with Sweden’s National Unit against International and Organized Crime leading the probe into suspected sabotage. Finland’s National Bureau of Investigation is conducting a parallel inquiry.

Germany’s Defense Minister Boris Pistorius suggested sabotage was likely, calling it a “hybrid action” during a Brussels meeting on Tuesday. “Nobody believes these cables were accidentally severed,” he said.

In a joint statement, Finland and Germany’s foreign ministers expressed deep concern and warned that such incidents could represent hybrid warfare. They emphasized the broader threat to European security posed by both Russia’s aggression in Ukraine and potential malicious actions targeting infrastructure.

While no vessels were detected near the affected areas based on tracking data, experts note that ships involved in clandestine activities, such as military operations or smuggling, often disable tracking systems.

The incidents align with a pattern of attacks linked to Russia, which has shown increased interest in undersea infrastructure. U.S. officials warned in September that Moscow had been expanding its marine unit capable of seabed operations, raising fears of potential sabotage.

Source: CNN