The authorities in Lithuania and Latvia are investigating the damage to an underwater optical cable, without affecting communication services, in the context of security suspicions.

Lithuania and Latvia have confirmed the damage to a submarine optical cable connecting the two countries, an incident detected on January 2. Although no disruptions to communication services have been reported, Latvian authorities detained a suspicious vessel, without establishing a direct link to the incident. Vilmantas Vitkauskas, the director of the Lithuanian Crisis Management Center, stated that the possible consequences are being assessed.

The owner of the cable, the Swedish group Arelion, confirmed the damage, noting that the incident is part of other recent damages in the Baltic Sea, suspected to be related to Russian activities. Finnish authorities have confiscated a Russian vessel suspected of damaging a cable between Helsinki and Tallinn, amplifying concerns regarding the security of critical infrastructure in the region.