- Germany and Finland investigate severed undersea cable
- Officials say such cable breaks are unusual in these waters without external interference
- Warnings that it could signal potential “hybrid warfare” tactics
Germany and Finland investigate severed undersea cable
An undersea telecommunications cable linking Germany and Finland has been severed, raising concerns amid already heightened tensions in Europe. The 1,170 km (730-mile) C-Lion1 fibreoptic cable connects Helsinki and Rostock, but all fibre connections in the line have been disrupted, according to Finnish network operator Cinia.
Authorities in both countries are investigating the rupture, with officials warning it could signal potential “hybrid warfare” tactics. In a joint statement, the German and Finnish foreign ministers said, “Our European security is not only under threat from Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, but also from hybrid warfare by malicious actors.”
While no immediate culprit has been identified, suspicions are heightened due to past incidents in the Baltic Sea. In October 2023, a natural gas pipeline between Finland and Estonia was damaged by a Chinese container ship dragging its anchor. In 2022, the Nord Stream pipelines between Russia and Germany were sabotaged, sparking speculation about Russian, Ukrainian, or even U.S. involvement.
Cinia confirmed the cable failure has not disrupted internet traffic, as alternative routes remain operational. However, cybersecurity experts, including Finnish official Samuli Bergstrom, stressed that such cable breaks are unusual in these waters without external interference.
The incident adds to the growing list of critical infrastructure disruptions, intensifying concerns over European security and the vulnerability of key systems.