Two Internet cables crossing the Baltic Sea have been sabotaged. A Chinese-registered bulk carrier - the Yi Peng - was doing odd maneuvers in the area at the time it occurred.
The ship has been intercepted by the Danish navy as it attempted to flee into the North Atlantic. It sailed from St. Petersburg and has a Russian captain.
Russia has denied responsibility for the sabotage. In other contexts, Russia has shown itself willing to do deniable sabotage beyond its borders.
The Baltic Sea is shallow which makes communication cables and pipelines laid on its bottom particularly vulnerable. Recollect the NordStream pipeline sabotage two years ago.
Will NATO act in this matter? Doubtful, this is the sort of gray-area warfare of which Russia is making a specialty, and to which there aren’t many good replies short of going to war, which neither side wants.
Perhaps landline communications between Russia and the Kaliningrad oblast could experience “difficulties” or “vandalism?” Russia may also have cables at risk in the Sea of Okhotsk.
Later ... Instapundit posts the following, sourced from Visegrád 24.
The Chinese vessel Yi Peng 3 has been chased, intercepted, and boarded by Danish Navy vessel Y311 Søløven.
