Chinese vessel suspected of deliberately severing communication cables in Baltic Sea - WSJ
Illustrative photo: A Chinese vessel is suspected of deliberately severing communication cables in the Baltic Sea (Getty Images)
The crew of the Chinese bulk carrier Yi Peng is suspected of cutting communication cables in the Baltic Sea. It has been under the protection of European warships in international waters for a week, The Wall Street Journal informs.
According to WSJ, the crew of the Chinese vessel, which is transporting Russian fertilizers, is suspected of deliberately severing two crucial data transmission cables between Finland and Germany, and between Sweden and Lithuania. This occurred while the ship dragged its anchor across the bottom of the Baltic Sea for more than 160 kilometers.
Investigators are currently focusing on whether the captain of the Chinese vessel was recruited by Russian intelligence. Law enforcement officials believe it is unlikely that the captain was unaware of the anchor, which slowed the vessel for hours and severed the cables in its path.
It is known that the ship left the Russian Baltic port of Ust-Luga on November 15. The cable cuts were discovered on November 18.
The investigation has already determined that the anchor first cut the cable between Sweden and Lithuania. Afterward, the vessel's transponder, which tracks its movement on the Automatic Identification System, was turned off. The freighter then continued its course and later severed the second cable between Germany and Finland. After that, the Yi Peng 3 began to zigzag, lifted its anchor, and continued on its way.
What happened to the cables in the Baltic Sea
Two underwater telecommunications cables were damaged in the Baltic Sea, one of which connected Helsinki and Rostock. The reasons are being investigated, but German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius suggested the damage might have been intentional.
A Chinese freighter, Yi Peng 3, with a Russian captain, is suspected, particularly due to its route, which raised suspicion. The Danish Navy stopped the ship for inspection.
It was later confirmed that the underwater cable C-Lion1, which connects Finland and Germany through the Baltic Sea, was damaged. The company reported that repairs had begun and could take 5 to 15 days.
The 1,173-kilometer-long cable, which has been in operation since 2016, serves as the only direct route between Finland and Central Europe.
Damage was also discovered to a cable between Lithuania and Sweden in the Baltic Sea.
