Norwegian authorities have seized a cargo ship with an all-Russian crew over suspicions of involvement in the recent damage to an undersea telecoms cable in the Baltic Sea.
The vessel, Silver Dania, was intercepted by the Norwegian coast guard on Thursday and brought to the port of Tromsø on Friday. The action followed a request from Latvian authorities and a ruling by a Norwegian court, according to local police.
Investigators suspect the ship—sailing between Russia’s St. Petersburg and Murmansk—may have caused serious damage to the cable linking Latvia and Sweden’s Gotland island.
Meanwhile, Swedish prosecutors have launched a separate investigation into suspected sabotage, detaining the Malta-flagged Vezhen in connection with the same incident. The ship’s Bulgarian owner denied wrongdoing but admitted accidental damage was possible.
Growing Fears Over Undersea Cable Attacks
Sunday’s cable rupture is the latest in a series of similar incidents raising concerns over potential Russian sabotage in the Baltic Sea. In the past three months, authorities have reported damage to undersea cables connecting Lithuania and Sweden, Germany and Finland, and several links between Estonia and Finland.
Officials have linked some of these cases to Russia’s so-called shadow fleet—a network of ageing tankers bypassing Western sanctions to sustain Moscow’s oil exports.
NATO Steps Up Security
In response, NATO has launched a new mission to safeguard undersea cables in the region, deploying frigates, naval drones, and patrol aircraft.
“We will do everything in our power to fight back, monitor the situation, and take necessary steps to prevent further incidents,” NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said earlier this month.
The alliance has warned that Russia is actively attempting to destabilise Western countries, increasing calls for strengthened defences in the Baltic region.
Iranian media outlets have backtracked on reports claiming that President Masoud Pezeshkian ordered the resumption of nuclear negotiations with the Un...
Hungary has vowed legal action against the European Union over a planned ban on Russian gas imports by 2027, after Brussels said national objections w...
Kazakhstan’s Reform Commission has published a draft of a new Constitution that would mark the most extensive revision of the country’s law since ...
Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) has accused French President Emmanuel Macron of authorising intelligence operations aimed at eliminating...
Any U.S. military strike on Iran would almost certainly trigger cross-border retaliation and could ignite a wider regional war, according to political...
Iranian media outlets have backtracked on reports claiming that President Masoud Pezeshkian ordered the resumption of nuclear negotiations with the United States, deepening uncertainty over the state of diplomacy between the two rivals.
Kazakhstan’s Reform Commission has published a draft of a new Constitution that would mark the most extensive revision of the country’s law since independence, including an absolute ban on the death penalty and more rights and freedoms for citizens.
Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) has accused French President Emmanuel Macron of authorising intelligence operations aimed at eliminating “undesirable leaders” in Africa, claiming that Paris is pursuing a political comeback after losing ground in several former colonies.
Any U.S. military strike on Iran would almost certainly trigger cross-border retaliation and could ignite a wider regional war, according to political analyst James M. Dorsey.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Saturday that the United States has begun negotiations with European leaders over Greenland and that an agreement is already taking shape.
The United States accused Cuba of interfering with the work of its top diplomat in Havana on Sunday (1 February) after small groups of Cubans jeered at him during meetings with residents and church representatives.
Dmitry Medvedev, said European countries have failed to defeat Russia in Ukraine and have instead inflicted serious economic damage on themselves, as he criticised EU policy, praised Donald Trump as a leader who seeks peace, and said Russia would “soon” achieve military victory in the war.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has warned that any U.S. military attack on Iran would spark a wider regional conflict, Iranian semi-official Tasnim news agency reported on Sunday.
U.S. president Donald Trump said Iran is “seriously talking” with the United States and expressed hope that negotiations could lead to an outcome acceptable to Washington.
Hungary has vowed legal action against the European Union over a planned ban on Russian gas imports by 2027, after Brussels said national objections would not override EU law.
Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) has accused French President Emmanuel Macron of authorising intelligence operations aimed at eliminating “undesirable leaders” in Africa, claiming that Paris is pursuing a political comeback after losing ground in several former colonies.
Türkiye, Egypt, and Qatar are trying to organise a meeting in Ankara between White House Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and top Iranian officials, according to reports in the U.S. and Turkish media.
German authorities have arrested five people suspected of running a criminal network to circumvent European Union sanctions by exporting goods to at least 24 sanctioned Russian defence companies, the federal prosecutor’s office said on Monday.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for the 2nd of February, covering the latest developments you need to know.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment