On February 3, 2025, Swedish prosecutors announced the release of the Vezhen, a vessel owned by a Bulgarian shipping company, after ruling out sabotage as the cause of damage to an undersea fiber-optic cable. The cable, which connects Latvia and Sweden, was found damaged on January 26, prompting the ship’s seizure by Swedish authorities.
- Vessel released after sabotage suspicions cleared
- Undersea cable damage detected on January 26
- Investigation found no gross sabotage involved
- Navibulgar denies intentional cable damage
- Previous incidents linked to Russia's shadow fleet
- Norwegian ship released after inspection findings
Authorities clarified that while the Vezhen caused the cable break, investigations concluded it was not a case of gross sabotage. The investigation is ongoing to determine if other crimes may have contributed to the incident.
The incident involving the undersea fiber-optic cable has raised concerns about security in the Baltic region, particularly amid fears of Russian sabotage. The cable connects the Latvian city of Ventspils with Sweden’s Gotland island and was damaged under circumstances that have drawn scrutiny. Previous incidents of cable ruptures in the area have been linked to potential Russian activities.
Key details include:
- The cable was damaged on January 26, 2025.
- The Vezhen was seized by Swedish authorities on the same day.
- Prosecutors confirmed that the ship did not engage in gross sabotage.
Navibulgar, the shipping company, stated that the Vezhen was operating in severe weather conditions when the incident occurred. The crew reported that one of the ship’s anchors was dragging along the seabed. In a related event, Norwegian authorities inspected another vessel, the Silver Dana, which was initially suspected of involvement but was later released without any findings linking it to the cable damage.
As investigations continue, Swedish prosecutors aim to clarify the circumstances surrounding the cable break and explore whether other factors may have contributed to the incident. The outcome may impact regional security assessments and ongoing concerns about undersea cable vulnerabilities.
In summary, the Vezhen was released after investigations ruled out sabotage in the undersea cable rupture. The focus now shifts to uncovering any other potential causes for the incident while maintaining vigilance over regional security issues.
