New Disruption Detected in Baltic Sea Cable Between Finland and Germany

A new disruption has been detected in an undersea telecommunications cable between Finland and Germany, Finnish outlet Yle reported on February 21.

The suspected break occurred within Sweden’s exclusive economic zone, near the coast of Gotland.

Sweden’s Coast Guard confirmed the incident to the media, stating that while the exact timing of the damage remains unclear, authorities have been aware of the situation since the previous day.

The Swedish Coast Guard dispatched a vessel to the site.

Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson also acknowledged the incident in a post on X, stating that the possibility of damage is being taken “very seriously.”

Swedish Armed Forces have also confirmed the cable disruption but have not specified which cable was affected or when the damage occurred. However, reports emerged that it is likely the C-Lion1 cable—the only undersea telecommunications link between Finland and Germany, running through that section of the Baltic Sea.

Swedish prosecutors have launched a preliminary investigation into the incident, with the Coast Guard assisting in the probe.

The C-Lion1 cable stretches 1,173 km (729 miles) from a bay near Helsinki to Rostock, Germany. Launched in 2016, it serves as Finland’s sole undersea connection to Central Europe.

This marks the second disruption of the C-Lion1 cable in recent months. The first incident was reported on November 18, 2024, following the passage of the Chinese cargo vessel Yi Peng 3 over the cable.

The Yi Peng 3 was later detained by a Danish Royal Navy vessel for crew questioning and a thorough examination of its route and actions near the telecommunications cables.