EU's Kallas holds Russia accountable for damage to cables Baltic Sea

She said this in an interview with Welt.

She called for new sanctions against Moscow.

The outlet noted that this accusation marked the first time the EU directly linked Russia to the increasing number of sabotage acts in Europe in recent months.

“Sabotage in Europe has increased since Russia started the war against Ukraine. The recent sabotage attempts in the Baltic Sea are not random incidents. Rather, they are part of a targeted and coordinated effort to damage our digital and energy infrastructure,” Kallas emphasized.

She also added that Russia's “shadow fleet” poses a threat to the environment and strengthens the country's military capabilities.

According to her, the EU will now “take stronger measures to counter the risks posed by these ships.” 

Background

On December 3, an internet cable between Finland and Sweden was severed. It sustained damage, but the cause of the incident remained unknown.

On December 25, Finland's national grid operator, Fingrid, reported damage to the Estlink 2 underwater power cable connecting Finland and Estonia.

On December 26, Finnish authorities detained the Eagle S vessel, which was transporting Russian oil in the Baltic Sea. It is suspected of damaging the underwater power cable linking Finland and Estonia, as well as four internet lines.

Subsequently, it was revealed that the EU will propose new sanctions against Russia's shadow fleet and enhance the protection of cables in the Baltic Sea.

Additionally, Estonia deployed the military ship Raju to patrol underwater power lines in response to the recent Baltic Sea incident.

On Sunday, December 29, Finnish police reported that they had found tracks stretching for tens of kilometers along the bottom of the Baltic Sea, where a tanker carrying Russian oil is suspected to have damaged the power line and four telecommunications cables with its anchor.