The cable belongs to Latvia State Radio and Television Center (LVRTC). LVRTC’s data transmission monitoring system detected a disruption of data transmission services between the Latvian port city of Ventspil and Gotland, AzVision.az reports, citing Anadolu Agency.
Vineta Sprugaine, head of corporate communications at LVRTC, said there are grounds to believe that the cable is "significantly damaged" and that it is due to "external influences."
Repair work on the cable, laid at depths of more than 50 meters (164 feet), will start as soon as an agreement is reached to put the repair vessel to sea, according to the report.
Latvian Prime Minister Evika Silina said they received the information about the damage Sunday morning, which occurred in a section located in Sweden’s exclusive economic zone.
"We are working together with our Swedish allies and NATO on investigating the incident, including patrolling the area, as well as inspecting the vessels that were in the area," she wrote on X.
Latvian authorities have intensified information exchange and launched a criminal investigation, added Silina.
Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said there is information suggesting that at least one data cable, owned by a Latvian entity, has been damaged in the Baltic Sea.
Kristersson noted that he has been in close contact with his Latvian counterpart.
"Sweden, Latvia and NATO are closely cooperating on the matter. Sweden will contribute with relevant capabilities to the effort to investigate the suspected incident," he wrote on X.
European Council President Antonio Costa said he is following with "deep concern" yet another incident affecting critical infrastructure in the Baltic Sea.
Costa also expressed full solidarity with Sweden and Latvia.
European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas noted that Sunday's incident has become the latest episode in a series of Baltic Sea incidents.
"Tomorrow, I will discuss with Foreign Ministers how to better deter and respond to hybrid threats amid Russia's intensified campaign," she wrote on X.
AzVision.az
