Sabotage attacks on undersea cables in the Baltic Sea remain hard to prove

In the winter of 2024, several suspected sabotage events targeted critical undersea cables in the Baltic Sea, notably involving the Russian-flagged tanker 'Eagle S' which damaged five cables near Finland on Christmas. The Finnish Coast Guard detained the vessel and initiated a criminal case. Another Chinese freighter 'Yi Peng 3' was also suspected of cable damage but China denied boarding for inspection. A Swedish investigation into the tanker 'Vezhen' concluded damage was likely accidental. The European Hybrid COE expert Konstantin Bellini noted a sharp increase in hybrid activities ranging from disinformation to cable sabotage in Europe. Due to international maritime law, proving sabotage and holding state actors accountable is difficult. Finland's recent trial ended without verdict due to jurisdictional limits, but demonstrated robust response signaling deterrence. Baltic states and NATO have since increased maritime patrols under Baltic Sentry, preventing further cable damage incidents. The incidents highlight complex hybrid warfare challenges in the Baltic region with suspected Russian involvement.