Russia becomes primary suspect in Baltic Sea cable sabotage

gCaptain reports that Russia has emerged as the primary suspect in the recent Baltic Sea cable incident involving the Chinese bulk carrier Yi Peng 3. The vessel, currently anchored in Denmark’s Kattegat Strait, is under close observation by Danish and German patrol ships.

• Western intelligence agencies suspect that Russian operatives coerced the Chinese captain of Yi Peng 3 to use the ship’s anchor to damage the C-Lion 1 and BCS East-West Interlink cables. U.S. Assistant Secretary of Defense Christopher Maier stated, “Russia understands that it cannot match the United States militarily after the setbacks in Ukraine and is looking for other ways to pressure and disrupt Western countries.”
• The German Coast Guard’s examination of the damaged C-Lion 1 cable revealed damage consistent with that caused by a dragged anchor, including a deep furrow on the seabed. Swedish officials have contacted the vessel’s crew, requesting a return to Swedish waters to support the ongoing investigation, but the request has not yet been fulfilled.
• The vessel’s operating pattern changed significantly in 2024. After primarily operating in Asia since 2013 without visiting Russia, it began making multiple trips to Russian ports such as Murmansk and Ust-Luga near St. Petersburg earlier this year. Notably, Yi Peng 3 switched its P&I insurance to the London P&I Club on November 13, just days before the incident occurred.
• European officials confirm China’s cooperation in the investigations, though no action has yet been taken to board the vessel. The Kremlin has dismissed the allegations as “absurd.”