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The United States and European countries are coming to the conclusion that the incidents with damaged cables in the Baltic Sea were the result of accidents rather than planned actions by Russia, The Washington Post reports , citing intelligence sources.
The incidents, which had previously raised fears of possible attacks by Russia’s “ghost fleet” on energy and communications lines, led to increased NATO patrols in the region. However, the investigation found no evidence of deliberate damage to the cables.
Probable causes – accidents
According to senior officials from the three countries involved in the investigation, intercepted communications and classified information indicate that the accidents were most likely the cause.
The evidence collected points to technical problems and crew errors on poorly maintained ships. These findings refute suspicions that the Russian vessels deliberately dragged their anchors through the cables on Moscow’s orders.
Growing tensions in Europe
While the incidents in the Baltic Sea may be accidental, they are deepening tensions between Russia and Europe. Russia’s actions have been linked to a general escalation of hybrid warfare, including cyberattacks, espionage and election interference.
Earlier in the week, The New York Times reported that the United States had warned Vladimir Putin of the consequences if he attempted to organise attacks on cargo planes heading to the United States.
Background to the incidents
Earlier, intelligence agencies suspected that Russia was behind other sabotage. Last summer, there were cases of postal items catching fire in warehouses in Germany and the UK, which were also linked to hybrid attacks.
Although incidents in the Baltic Sea are likely to be accidental, NATO Allies remain on high alert, stepping up security measures in the region.
