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fullscreenHans Liwång, professor of defense systems at the Norwegian Defense Academy. Archive photography Photo: Judit Nilsson/Svd/TT
The break in the electricity cable between Finland and Estonia is being investigated as gross sabotage, and other people’s cables have also suffered from breaks.
– We have to consider the possibility that sabotage is behind it, says Hans Liwång at the Norwegian Defense Academy to Ekot.
The break on the large Estlink 2 electricity cable was discovered at lunchtime on Christmas Day and is being investigated by the police. Damage to other communication cables running between Estonia and Finland has also been reported.
– If there are several cables that break at the same time, then it is more likely that there is some external influence, says Hans Liwång, professor of defense systems at the Swedish Defense Academy, to Ekot in Sveriges Radio.
It may indeed be accidents caused by fishing gear or anchors, but Liwång notes at the same time that there is a threat to the Baltic Sea.
– Then we actually have to consider the possibility that it is sabotage, a deliberate act that is behind it and not a mistake.
Shipping in the Baltic Sea has been affected by the sanctions against Russia, says Liwång. On the one hand, there are ships that sail towards Russian ports with a much lower security awareness, and which are not used to traffic in the area. But the security policy tensions have also increased and thus the risk of sabotage against the NATO countries’ infrastructure.
– Both the risk of accidents and the risk of sabotage have increased in recent years, says Liwång.