Lithuanian officials see a 'high probability' of Baltic Sea cables being intentionally cut

Gitanas Nuseda, the Lithuanian President said that it was highly likely that the two fibre-optic cables undersea that were damaged in the Baltic Sea last month were intentionally cut.

After being damaged on November 17-18, both cables, one connecting Finland with Germany and the second connecting Sweden and Lithuania were repaired and back online.

Nauseda, a reporter at the time, said that there was a high probability of this being a malicious activity. He added that there was no proof to show the damage was intentional.

Investigators have focused on the Chinese bulk carrier Yi Peng 3 which left the Russian Port of Ust-Luga in Nov. 15. An analysis of MarineTraffic showed that the coordinates of the ship matched the time and location of the breaches.

According to security sources, the carrier is responsible for cutting the two cables by dragging the anchor along the seabed in Swedish economic waters.

Officials from several countries in the West have stated that they are certain the Chinese ship was responsible for the damage to the cables. They have differing opinions on whether the cuts were accidental or deliberate.

The vessel is currently in Danish economic water, under the watchful eye of NATO ships. Sweden has urged the ship to return for an investigation.

China said that it was ready to help in the investigation. However, its ally Russia denied any involvement.

This case is similar to the incident that occurred last year, when the Chinese ship New Polar Bear caused damage to two cables connecting Estonia with Finland and Sweden. It also damaged a gas pipeline between Estonia and Finland. Reporting by Andrius ytas, Vilnius Editing done by Louise Rasmussen Terje Solsvik Frances Kerry

(source: Reuters)