**Norwegian Authorities Detain Russian Crewed Vessel**
On January 30, Norwegian police detained the Silver Dania vessel with a Russian crew on suspicion of damaging an undersea fiber-optic cable that links Latvia and Sweden. The cable was significantly damaged in the Baltic Sea on January 26.
The Silver Dania operates under the Norwegian flag and travels between St. Petersburg and Murmansk. It was seized in Tromso at Latvia’s request following a local court order. Police are searching the ship and questioning the crew.
This incident is part of a series of cable damage cases being investigated as possible acts of sabotage in the Baltic Sea. On December 25, four telecommunication cables and a power cable were destroyed, with Finnish authorities suspecting a Russian “shadow fleet” vessel was involved.
**Response to Incidents**
In response to these incidents, NATO has dispatched additional patrol ships to the region to safeguard critical infrastructure. However, intelligence services in the US and Europe are increasingly suspecting that the damage may be due to maritime accidents rather than deliberate sabotage.
Concerns over Russian hybrid warfare tactics persist, particularly as suspicious activities involving Russian-registered vessels near Denmark and Sweden continue to raise alarms in the region.
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