Russia says its undersea telecom cable in Baltic Sea damaged by 'external impact'
Russia's state-controlled telecom giant Rostelecom announced on Feb. 8 that one of its underwater cables in the Baltic Sea had been damaged due to an "external impact."
The company did not specify the cause of the damage but confirmed that repair work was underway. Rostelecom said that the incident did not affect consumers, according to AFP.
The damage comes amid a series of recent disruptions to undersea telecom and power cables in the Baltic Sea. Western experts and officials have accused Russia of engaging in hybrid warfare against countries supporting Ukraine.
On Jan. 30, Norwegian authorities detained the Silver Dania vessel with a Russian crew on suspicion of damaging an undersea fiber-optic cable linking Latvia and Sweden.
NATO has responded by increasing patrols to safeguard critical underwater infrastructure.
On the same day, Finland's coast guard reported that a Russian vessel was conducting repairs on a damaged underwater cable in the Gulf of Finland. Finnish authorities confirmed that the incident took place within Finland's exclusive economic zone but did not provide details on how or when the damage occurred.
In response to growing concerns over subsea security, NATO launched a patrol mission in January to protect vital infrastructure in the region. The operation, called "Baltic Sentry," involves aircraft, frigates, submarines, and drones monitoring the area for potential threats.
Similar incidents have been reported in the past when Finnish authorities discovered damage to another Rostelecom cable in the Baltic Sea. That incident coincided with disruptions to underwater infrastructure in both Sweden and Finland, further raising suspicions of deliberate sabotage.
Read also: Russia's Baltic Sea sabotage is no accident, it's strategy
We've been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Russia ships weapons to Africa, violating sanctions, AP reports
Russia has been shipping weapons to conflict zones in West Africa in violation of international sanctions, the Associated Press (AP) reported on June 10, citing radio signals, satellite images, and military officials. The deliveries represent another sign of Russia's expanding military footprint in African nations. Russian-flagged cargo ships delivered howitzers, radio jammers, and other military equipment to a port in Guinea in late May after a month-long voyage from the Baltic Sea, the AP reported. Other ships made deliveries to the same port in January, carrying armored vehicles and tanks. Some of the vessels involved in the shipments, including Russia's Baltic Leader and Patria, are on Western sanctions lists. The weapons delivered to Guinea were then carried in trucks to neighboring Mali, European military officials told the AP. The outlet analyzed video footage from a Malian blogger to verify the report. Footage analyzed by the AP identified Russian-made 152 mm artillery guns, small cannons, and a BTR-80 armored troop carrier equipped with radio-jamming devices entering Mali. The delivery also included tanker trucks and semi-inflatable boats, one marked with a painted Russian flag. Read also: US warns 'serious consequences' over Russian naval base plans in Sudan According to military officials, most of the weapons were likely delivered not to the Malian Armed Forces but to Russia's "Africa Corps," a paramilitary group controlled by the Russian Defense Ministry. Russian mercenaries, including the notorious Wagner Group, have fought alongside Malian government forces since 2021, in attempts to fend off Islamic insurgents. The Wagner Group announced its withdrawal from Mali on June 6, but Africa Corps intends to maintain an active presence in the country. Satellite images from the Bamako air base indicate that Africa Corps also has at least one Su-24 bomber, the AP reported. Wagner forces in Mali have been sanctioned for alleged war crimes and widespread looting. In December 2024, Human Rights Watch accused Wagner mercenaries and Malian government forces of deliberately killing 32 civilians. Wagner mercenaries and Malian soldiers have also reportedly suffered heavy losses in their engagements with Tuareg-led rebels. After a short-lived rebellion against Moscow led by former Wagner Commander Yevgeny Prigozhin in June 2023, Russia sought to tighten its control over operations in Africa — the majority of which were led by Wagner forces. The influx of Russian weapons into Mali is likely accelerating Africa Corps' rise over Wagner in the region, officials and experts told the AP. The weaponry could also help prevent Russian forces in Africa from suffering the kinds of heavy losses incurred last summer. Read also: In African universities, Russia's war against Ukraine finds new supporters We've been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Massive Russian drone attack kills 2, injures at least 37 in Kharkiv
Editor's Note: This is a developing story and is being updated. Russia attacked homes and apartment buildings in Kharkiv with drones overnight on June 11, killing at least two people and injuring 37 others, including five children, Mayor Ihor Terekhov reported. The attack struck a five-story residential building in the city's Slobidskyi district, leaving 15 apartments in flames, Terekhov said. Several homes in the Osnovyanskyi district were also hit. The large-scale attack also struck a trolleybus depot in the city, with several vehicles also catching fire, regional Governor Oleh Synehubov said. At least two people have been killed and 37 have been injured, including five children. The number may rise as authorities search for more victims trapped beneath the rubble. Terekhov said that nine people have been hospitalized as a result of the attack. including a 2-year-old girl and a 15-year-old boy. Earlier in the night, Terekhov warned residents that a "massive enemy drone attack" was targeting Kharkiv. He later reported that Russia carried out 17 drone strikes in the city. Russia has pounded the city of Kharkiv with relentless aerial attacks in recent days. A series of attacks with drones, missiles, and KAB guided bombs on June 7 left four dead and around 40 injured, as Russia struck civilian targets in the city throughout the night and again in the afternoon. President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the "brutal strike" and urged the U.S. to allow Ukraine to purchase urgently needed air defense systems. Already a frequent target of Russian strikes due to its proximity to the front lines, Kharkiv has also come under fire during Moscow's recent record-breaking attacks against cities across Ukraine. Zelensky said on June 10 that Russia has been steadily increasing the number of weapons it launches at Ukraine in its mass overnight assaults. We've been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.


New York Post
2 hours ago
- New York Post
At least 15 arrested in NYC anti-ICE protest as thousands take to the street
At least 15 people were arrested at a massive anti-ICE protest in lower Manhattan Tuesday where shrieking, sign-holding demonstrators flooded the streets. Thousands of angry New Yorkers took to the streets outside Foley Square in the shadow of City Hall to protest the Immigration and Customs Enforcement deportations ongoing in the city and throughout the country. Thousands of angry New Yorkers took to the streets outside Foley Square to protest ICE deportations, leading to at least 15 arrests. AFP via Getty Images Picketers carried placards reading 'Abolish ICE' and 'ICE out of New York!' and chanted phrases such as, 'Brick by brick, wall by wall, this racist system has got to fall!' At least 15 demonstrators were taken into custody by the NYPD near Broadway and Duane Street for obstructing traffic and not complying with orders to disperse, according to police sources. Notable speakers at the protest included Brooklyn Councilwoman Shahana Hanif and Public Advocate Jumaane Williams.