Despite earlier accusations from Western officials, who blamed Moscow for damage to underwater power and communications lines in the Baltic Sea, Russia has consistently denied involvement.
An investigation by Western authorities has found no evidence to support claims that Russia was behind the ruptures of underwater cables in the Baltic Sea, according to The Wall Street Journal, which cited officials familiar with the investigations conducted by the nations affected.
Following a series of incidents over the past year and a half, in which power and communications lines were damaged, some NATO and EU officials initially accused Moscow of sabotage and “hybrid warfare.” These incidents involved ships traveling to and from Russian ports, including damage to a gas pipeline in the Gulf of Finland in October 2023 and a break in the EstLink 2 power cable in December of the same year. Allegedly, each incident involved vessels linked to Russia, with investigators suggesting that the ships’ anchors may have dragged the cables.
Even with suspicions directed towards Russia, no definitive proof has emerged. The WSJ reported on Sunday that officials involved in the investigations have found “no proof” that Moscow “ordered or orchestrated” the damage.
Moscow, viewing the Baltic Sea as a strategically important area for its naval operations and energy exports, has consistently denied the sabotage allegations. The Kremlin has accused the West of spreading a false narrative that misrepresents routine accidents as evidence of Russian involvement. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov previously dismissed the accusations as “absurd,” stating that Russia is being blamed “without any reason.”
In January, NATO initiated a new patrol mission called ‘Baltic Sentry’ in the Baltic Sea, citing the need to protect underwater infrastructure. However, Belgian Navy Commander Erik Kockx, whose task force is participating in the mission, told the WSJ that his team primarily functions “as security cameras.” He also noted that it is still unclear whether NATO’s presence has improved safety in the waterway.
“It’s quite difficult to prove that our presence helps,” Kockx stated. “It’s hard to say that if we hadn’t been there, something would have occurred.”
The WSJ also pointed out that the Baltic Sea floor is scattered with shipwrecks and unexploded ordnance from both World Wars, potentially contributing to incidents like cable ruptures. A further complication is the lack of centralized information on undersea infrastructure, as most data is held by national governments or private companies. NATO’s first comprehensive map of the Baltic seabed was only completed last year.
In January, the Washington Post reported that US and European intelligence officials generally agreed that Russia was not responsible for the Baltic Sea incidents. The report indicated that classified intelligence and intercepted communications suggested the cable ruptures were likely “maritime accidents” involving inadequately trained crews and poorly maintained vessels.