Hysterical statements have flown about over the recent period following damage to undersea data and power cables in the Baltic Sea. The Estlink-2 power cable, which brings electricity from Finland to Estonia across the Baltic, is the most recent to be damaged and went down on Christmas Day. Last month, two data cables were severed between Germany and Finland. All three attacks have been termed “sabotage,” and of course were blamed on Russia, though no evidence has been produced to that effect.
The Estonians have gone into conniptions, and held an emergency session following the Estlink-2 incident. “Repeated damage to Baltic Sea infrastructure signals a systemic threat, not mere accidents. Estonia will take action to counter this threat, together with Finland and other NATO allies,” Estonia’s President Alar Karis said on X yesterday.
On Dec. 26, Finland seized an oil tanker it suspects may have damaged the cable, supposedly by dragging its anchor. EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas jumped to the fore, saying the incident was “the latest in a series of suspected attacks on critical infrastructure.” Kallas also claimed the ship “is part of Russia’s shadow fleet, which threatens security and the environment, while funding Russia’s war budget. We will propose further measures, including sanctions, to target this fleet.”
