NATO prosecutors struggle to connect Russia with incidents of cable cutting, according to WSJ
According to a report by the WSJ, investigators have not yet discovered any evidence indicating that the four sea cable incidents in the Baltic Sea were acts of sabotage. Read Full Article at RT.com
TroibNews 
The investigation into a series of incidents involving cable damage in the Baltic Sea has reportedly uncovered no evidence to suggest that these events were acts of deliberate sabotage orchestrated by a state actor, according to the Wall Street Journal.
In recent months, there have been multiple occurrences—at least four—where undersea cables in the region sustained damage, purportedly attributed to Russian vessels or those operating from Russian ports. This has led to speculation regarding Moscow's potential involvement, a notion that the Kremlin has denied consistently.
The first incident occurred in October when the Chinese bulk carrier ‘Newnew Polar Bear’ reportedly damaged two cables with its anchor; despite this, the vessel was permitted to continue its voyage amid an ongoing investigation.
Another incident took place in November involving the ‘Yi Peng 3’, a bulk carrier flying the Chinese flag, which was suspected of impairing two telecom cables near Sweden’s Gotland island. Initially, Western intelligence agencies hinted that the ship's captain might have been acting under Moscow's directives, but a later investigation led by Germany and the EU "didn’t result in evidence to support that allegation."
Investigators have indicated that it would be nearly impossible for the ship’s anchor to have dropped by accident; however, they have not completely eliminated the possibilities of gross negligence or adverse weather conditions.
The ‘Eagle S’, a Russian oil tanker, has also drawn scrutiny for allegedly damaging the Estlink 2 power cable between Finland and Estonia in December. Although Finnish authorities inspected the vessel and interviewed its crew, they could not accumulate sufficient evidence to issue arrest warrants or file charges, leading to the ship's eventual release, as noted by the WSJ.
In late January, Swedish authorities detained the ‘Vezhen’, a Bulgarian bulk carrier, for damaging a subsea cable shortly after leaving the Russian port of Ust-Luga near Estonia. The ship was later freed due to insufficient evidence linking it to sabotage.
Officials involved in the investigations have expressed that proving sabotage is particularly challenging, as it necessitates clear evidence of intentional wrongdoing. Prosecutors must demonstrate that any damage was deliberate rather than a result of accidental anchor drops or severe weather, a complex task that is reportedly causing frustration among Western officials, many of whom view these incidents as components of a "hybrid war" waged by Russia.
In response to the incidents involving sea cables, NATO announced the Baltic Sentry mission in mid-January to bolster surveillance and protection efforts for critical underwater infrastructure in the area.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has rejected the notion of Russian involvement, labeling such speculation as unfounded and stating, “It is quite absurd to continue to blame Russia for everything without any grounds."
Anna Muller contributed to this report for TROIB News
In recent months, there have been multiple occurrences—at least four—where undersea cables in the region sustained damage, purportedly attributed to Russian vessels or those operating from Russian ports. This has led to speculation regarding Moscow's potential involvement, a notion that the Kremlin has denied consistently.
The first incident occurred in October when the Chinese bulk carrier ‘Newnew Polar Bear’ reportedly damaged two cables with its anchor; despite this, the vessel was permitted to continue its voyage amid an ongoing investigation.
Another incident took place in November involving the ‘Yi Peng 3’, a bulk carrier flying the Chinese flag, which was suspected of impairing two telecom cables near Sweden’s Gotland island. Initially, Western intelligence agencies hinted that the ship's captain might have been acting under Moscow's directives, but a later investigation led by Germany and the EU "didn’t result in evidence to support that allegation."
Investigators have indicated that it would be nearly impossible for the ship’s anchor to have dropped by accident; however, they have not completely eliminated the possibilities of gross negligence or adverse weather conditions.
The ‘Eagle S’, a Russian oil tanker, has also drawn scrutiny for allegedly damaging the Estlink 2 power cable between Finland and Estonia in December. Although Finnish authorities inspected the vessel and interviewed its crew, they could not accumulate sufficient evidence to issue arrest warrants or file charges, leading to the ship's eventual release, as noted by the WSJ.
In late January, Swedish authorities detained the ‘Vezhen’, a Bulgarian bulk carrier, for damaging a subsea cable shortly after leaving the Russian port of Ust-Luga near Estonia. The ship was later freed due to insufficient evidence linking it to sabotage.
Officials involved in the investigations have expressed that proving sabotage is particularly challenging, as it necessitates clear evidence of intentional wrongdoing. Prosecutors must demonstrate that any damage was deliberate rather than a result of accidental anchor drops or severe weather, a complex task that is reportedly causing frustration among Western officials, many of whom view these incidents as components of a "hybrid war" waged by Russia.
In response to the incidents involving sea cables, NATO announced the Baltic Sentry mission in mid-January to bolster surveillance and protection efforts for critical underwater infrastructure in the area.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has rejected the notion of Russian involvement, labeling such speculation as unfounded and stating, “It is quite absurd to continue to blame Russia for everything without any grounds."
Anna Muller contributed to this report for TROIB News
