Baltic Sea Cables: Expert Disputes Washington Post's Claims of Accidental Damage

Jukka Savolainen, Network Director at the European Hybrid Competence Center, has challenged The Washington Post's recent report suggesting that damage to Baltic Sea cables was accidental, Orda reports, citing Ilta Sonomat.

He believes the cables being accidentally damaged is unfounded.

The Washington Post, citing U.S. and European intelligence officials, reported that U.S. and European intelligence officials treat the three cable breaks as accidents.

The report also noted that no evidence has been found linking Russia to the incidents.

Savolainen acknowledged that while no conclusive evidence has emerged linking Russia, the absence doesn't necessarily exclude guilt. 

He explained that gathering concrete evidence in such operations can be inherently challenging, if not impossible, as such investigations abide by the mechanisms of the rule of law.

Then the captain of the ship would have to say, yes, I received instructions from the Russians and I did that. Without a confession or some kind of intelligence interception, there will be no proof. <...> I emphasize that I cannot claim that Russia is behind any of these cases, but it is clear that someone is doing something here. he said.

Commenting for Yle, Sami Liimatainen, Investigation Director at the Finnish National Crime Agency, said:

 I won't comment on foreign media reports. They can stand on their own merit.

He confirmed that the Finnish authorities are continuing their criminal investigation into the incidents.