Latvian State Radio and TV Center's optic cable damaged in Baltic Sea

The underwater optical cable of Latvia's State Radio and Television Center (LVRTC) was damaged in the Baltic Sea on Sunday morning, the center informed the LETA news agency. Estonia's politicians are in contact with their Latvian and Swedish counterparts.
According to the LVRTC, the data monitoring system reported damage on the Ventspils-Gotland section of the cable. LETA reported that the damage was identified within Sweden's economic zone (EEZ).
The center continues to provide services via alternative routes.
"There is reason to believe that the cable has suffered significant damage due to external factors," said LVRTC communications manager Vineta Sprugaine.
The cable lies on the seabed at a depth of more than 50 meters, meaning the nature of the damage can only be determined after repair operations begin, Sprugaine added.
The Latvian Defense Forces reported that they identified a vessel potentially linked to the damage of the LVRTC underwater optical cable in the Baltic Sea. The Latvian Navy dispatched a patrol vessel to inspect the ship.
The Navy Commander, Adm. Māris Polencs, told journalists that a patrol vessel was dispatched to inspect the bulk carrier Michalis San. The ship, en route to Russia, was waiting for clearance from its agent to continue its journey.

"We did not detect any suspicious activity on board or damage to the anchor. Additionally, we are continuing to analyze the movements of other vessels in the area," Polencs stated.
The Michalis San sails under the Maltese flag, and according to MarineTraffic data, the vessel departed from the port of Bejaia in Algeria.
The Maritime Operations Center also analyzed the movement of the vessel near the cable and identified two additional ships present in the area.
The Defense Forces have notified NATO of the incident.
The Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said Sweden will "contribute with relevant capabilities" to support the investigation of the incident.
Latvian Prime Minister Evika Silina said Latvia and Sweden are working together. "Authorities have intensified information exchange and started [a] criminal investigation," she wrote on social media.
Early morning today we received information that the data cable from Latvia to Sweden was damaged in the Baltic Sea, in the section that is located in the Exclusive economic zone of Sweden. We are working together with our Swedish Allies and NATO on investigating the incident,…
— Evika Siliņa (@EvikaSilina) January 26, 2025
Prime minister: Estonia ready to help
Estonia's top politicians on Sunday evening said they were in contact with their Latvian and Swedish counterparts and will provide assistance if necessary.
Prime Minister Kristen Michal (Reform) said Estonia is "carefully" monitoring its waters. "If necessary we are ready to inspect suspected vessels," he wrote on social media.
Have been in contact with @EvikaSilina and @SwedishPM concerning the damaged undersea cable between Latvia and Sweden.
— Kristen Michal (@KristenMichalPM) January 26, 2025
Estonia is monitoring carefully what is happening in our waters. If necessary we are ready to inspect suspected vessels.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Margus Tsahkna (Eesti 200) said: "Estonia takes the news of a damage to an undersea cable between Latvia & Sweden with utmost seriousness."
He added the issue will be discussed later this week at the Foreign Affairs Council meeting in Brussels.
Estonia takes the news of a damage to an undersea cable between Latvia & Sweden with utmost seriousness.
— Margus Tsahkna (@Tsahkna) January 26, 2025
I remain in close contact with my Latvian & Swedish colleagues. We'll speak about the details of the damage already this evening as we meet in Brussels for the #FAC.
Riigikogu Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Marko Mihkelson (Reform) said this is the fourth incident of damaged cables in 14 months caused by "external influence" and called it a "deeply concerning trend."
"This requires more serious deterrent actions from the allies," he wrote.
Over the past 14 months, the fourth instance of underwater infrastructure destruction in the Baltic Sea caused by external influence is a deeply concerning trend. This requires more serious deterrent actions from the allies. https://t.co/rhAjqBW9F5
— Marko Mihkelson (@markomihkelson) January 26, 2025
Kaja Kallas, the EU's top diplomat, said she will discuss the incident with foreign ministers on Monday.
The conversations will focus on "how to better deter and respond to hybrid threats amid Russia's intensified campaign," Estonia's former prime minister said.
Today's damage to a subsea cable in the Baltic Sea is the latest incident affecting the critical infrastructure of EU Member States.
— Kaja Kallas (@kajakallas) January 26, 2025
Tomorrow, I will discuss with Foreign Ministers how to better deter and respond to hybrid threats amid Russia's intensified campaign.
Several electricity and data cables have been broken in the Baltic Sea over the last 18 months, as well as the gas pipeline Balticconnector. The connections have run between Finland, Estonia, Sweden, Germany and Lithuania.
Balticconnector was broken by a ship dragging its anchor in October 2023. Estlink 2, which was severed on December 25, is suspected to have been damaged in the same way by a ship belonging to Russia's shadow fleet.
This is the first time a Latvian cable has been affected.
The article was updated to add comments from the Latvian Navy, Latvian Prime Minister Evika Silina, Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal, Minister of Foreign Affairs Margus Tsahkna, and Riigikogu Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Marko Mihkelson.
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Editor: Merili Nael, Marcus Turovski, Helen Wright
Source: BNS