**Baltic Sea Cable Damage Caused by Accidents, Not Russian Sabotage**
Intelligence services in the U.S. and Europe are increasingly convinced that accidents led to the damage of critical cables in the Baltic Sea. This is according to a report by the Washington Post on January 19.
The incidents had raised fears that Russian shadow fleet vessels were intentionally sabotaging the energy and communication lines. However, senior officials from three countries involved in investigating the cause of the incidents have found no evidence that the ships suspected of dragging anchors across the cables were directed by Moscow or that they damaged the cables intentionally.
**NATO Tension Eases**
The officials cited intercepted communications and classified intelligence that pointed to maritime accidents as the likely cause. This news comes amid a series of other incidents that had heightened tension between Russia and Europe, including cyberattacks, espionage, and election interference.
**Other Developments**
In other news, Ukrainian forces shot down 43 Russian attack drones overnight on January 19. The Air Force reported this number includes 1,580 casualties suffered by Russian forces just over the past day.
Ukrainian forces also launched an aerial attack against a Russian-occupied refractory plant in the embattled city of Chasiv Yar, confirming earlier reports that Ukraine had withdrawn from the site.
Additionally, Ukrainian law enforcement officers charged former lawmaker and businessman Vadym Novynskyi with high treason and incitement to religious hatred in absentia.
**Russia’s Actions**
Russia launched an attack on Kyiv early in the morning on January 18, killing three people and injuring three others. The country also launched 39 drones, including Shahed-type, and four ballistic missiles overnight.
A fire erupted at an oil depot in Russia’s Tula Oblast following a Ukrainian drone attack on the facility overnight on January 18.
**Sanctions**
Sanctions imposed by the outgoing U.S. administration against Antal Rogan have only strengthened his position, Prime Minister Viktor Orban said during a state radio interview on January 17.
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