Balticconnector Damaged in Potential Russian Attack
Sevmorput, one of the ships whose presence in the Baltic Sea has been alleged to be linked to Balticconnector damage, in St. Petersburg in 2020 (Wikimedia Commons).
The Balticconnector, a gas pipeline between Inkoo, Finland and Paldiski, Estonia, experienced infrastructure damage on October 8, leading to an immediate shutdown. With investigations into the cause of the damage ongoing, Latvian officials have suggested Russian involvement and encouraged NATO to close the Baltic Sea to Russian ships if they are found responsible. Russia responded, claiming no involvement.
The Balticconnector spans approximately 48 miles in the Baltic Sea and plays a crucial role in providing gas to the transportation networks of Finland and Estonia. Both countries have joined NATO, which has raised concerns for Russia. The Baltic Sea is of strategic importance for the Russian Navy, NATO’s growing involvement in the Baltic Sea could infringe upon Russia’s influence.
On October 8, a Finnish telecoms operator detected a drop in pressure level in the undersea communication cable and gas pipeline. Gasgris, the Finish gas grid operator, then reported that the pipeline was leaking and shut it off. Further investigation revealed that a communication cable between Sweden and Estonia had also been damaged.
The investigation that commenced revealed that the damage to the Balticconnector was most likely caused by international “external activity,” possibly involving “state actors.” Finnish officials have focused current investigations on vessels in the Baltic Sea at the time of the incident, including a Chinese ship, Newnew Polar Bear, and the Russian Sevmorput, a cargo ship.
In response, the state corporation Rosatom, owner of the Sevmorput, denied any involvement in the incident. On October 19, NATO announced that it would be increasing security measures in the Baltic Sea to safeguard underwater infrastructure. To achieve this, NATO has sent mine hunters, patrol aircrafts, and early warning planes.
Latvian President Edgars Rinkēvičs expressed concern about the incident, saying, “If we see that there is a state party responsible for the damaging of the critical infrastructure, then we also need to consider this at NATO level, maybe actually also considering closing the shipping in the Baltic Sea for Russian ships, if Russia is found guilty.” He went on to emphasize the importance of waiting for the investigation to conclude.
However, President Rinkēvičs did state, “I've spoken to the Finnish and Estonian presidents, it's approximately clear what direction this is going in,” referring to Russian responsibility for the damage. In reference to the possibility that Russia may be accountable for the damage, the president declared, “Of course, it's a question of a whole series of maritime rights, but if it's clearly proven to be Russia, the (...) discussion has to be that to protect our critical infrastructure, there needs to be a conversation about how we can close the Baltic Sea.”
President Rinkēvič clarified that nothing will be discussed with NATO until undebatable facts are presented to the allies. Andris Sprūds, a member of the Saeima, the Parliament of the Republic of Latvia, contributed to the conversation, saying, “If information emerges that Russia is involved, the action must be clear and rigorous. Russia can only be spoken to from positions of strength.” Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Krišjānis Kariņš discussed with reporters the potential of Russian involvement in the damage to the Balticconnector, saying that it would be difficult to imagine the pipeline’s closure.
The Russian Federation was unhappy with Latvia’s remarks about closing the Baltic Sea. Dmitry Peskov, Press Secretary of the president of Russia, responded to Latvian officials, “Any threats must be taken seriously, no matter who they come from. Any threats to the Russian Federation are unacceptable.” He then went on to reaffirm that Russia had absolutely no part in the damage to the pipeline, and that he would like to ask President Rinkēvičs about the explosions in Russia’s Nord Stream gas pipelines in 2022.
Russia claims that these explosions were caused by the United States and their allies, who went unpunished. “I would like to ask Mr. President [Rinkēvičs] what needs to be done with the Baltic Sea…after it becomes clear who carried out and who ordered the terrorist attack in the Baltic against the Nord Streams,” Peskov said. The investigation into the Balticconnector incident and the ensuing diplomatic tensions between Latvia and Russia highlight the complex geopolitical dynamics in the Baltic Sea region.