STOCKHOLM (AP) — Swedish authorities said on Friday they were investigating a damaged cable that was discovered in the Baltic Sea, the latest in a string of recent incidents of ruptured undersea cables that have heightened fears of Russian sabotage and spying in the region.
The breakage was found on a cable that runs between Germany and Finland off the island of Gotland, south of Stockholm, in the Swedish economic zone, the news agency TT reported Friday. The Coast Guard was responding to the site.
A “preliminary investigation into sabotage was opened,” Swedish police said in a statement, adding they had "no further information to share at this time.”
Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said on the social media platform X that the government takes all reports of damage to infrastructure in the Baltic Sea very seriously.
Late last month, authorities discovered damage to the undersea fiber-optic cable running between the Latvian city of Ventspils and Sweden’s Gotland. A vessel belonging to a Bulgarian shipping company was seized but later released after Swedish prosecutors ruled out initial suspicions that sabotage caused the damage.
The European Commission, the 27-member EU executive branch, presented key measures on Friday for better protection of underwater cables in its region, including stepping up security requirements and risk assessments while prioritizing funding for new and smart cables.
It said threat-monitoring capabilities will be enhanced in the Mediterranean and the Baltic seas for a quicker and more effective response and repair capabilities.
Sanctions and diplomatic measures will also be taken “against hostile actors," the Commission document said. These actions are to be rolled out progressively in 2025 and 2026 to strengthen measures taken by NATO and EU members.
The Commission said the undersea communication cables connect EU member states “to one another, link islands to the EU mainland, and connect the EU to the rest of the world,” carrying 99% of inter-continental internet traffic.
The underwater electricity cables facilitate the integration of EU members' power supply and strengthen their security, it said, adding that incidents in recent months “have risked causing severe disruptions in essential functions and services in the EU, impacting the daily lives of EU citizens.”
FILE - Crew members aboard a French Navy Atlantique 2 surveillance plane patrolling over the Baltic Sea to protect undersea cables and pipelines from sabotage, on Jan. 23, 2025. (AP Photo/John Leicester, File)
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Cole Caufield and Patrik Laine scored in the second period to rally the Montreal Canadiens to a 2-1 victory over the Nashville Predators on Sunday night.
Jakub Dobes turned back 36 shots for the Canadiens, who extended their winning streak to five games after a five-game skid.
Steven Stamkos scored and Juuse Saros made 15 saves for Nashville, which was scoreless on four power plays and lost its sixth straight and for the seventh time in eight games.
Stamkos opened the scoring at 4:19 into the first off a feed from Filip Forsberg for his 25th of the season.
Caufield converted a pass from Nick Suzuki less than two minutes into the second period, tying the score at 1. It was Caufield's 36th goal of the season. Laine scored the go-ahead goal, his 20th of the season, just over four minutes later.
Nashville's Matthew Wood made his NHL debut. The 20-year-old winger, the 15th overall pick in the 2023 draft, finished with one shot in just over 13 minutes.
Canadiens: Montreal (38-30-9) holds the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference, five points behind Ottawa (42-29-6, 90 points) and six points ahead of the New York Rangers (36-33-7) and Detroit Red Wings (36-33-7).
Predators: Saros lost his third straight decision and for the fourth time in his last six games.
Lane Hutson's assist on Laine's goal was his 58th of the season and gave the 21-year-old from Holland, Michigan, 64 points, tying Chris Chelios' franchise record for points by a rookie defenseman.
Nashville carried the play in the second period and had a 15-8 edge in shots on goal in the frame. But, Montreal scored two goals in the period to take a lead it never relinquished. The Predators outshot the Canadiens 37-17 overall.
The Canadiens host the Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday. The Predators host the New York Islanders on Tuesday.
The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl
Montreal Canadiens left wing Michael Pezzetta (55) fights with Nashville Predators defenseman Andreas Englund (8) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Sunday, April 6, 2025, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
Montreal Canadiens defenseman Alexandre Carrier (45) and Nashville Predators right wing Matthew Wood (52) chase the puck during the second period of an NHL hockey game Sunday, April 6, 2025, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
Nashville Predators center Steven Stamkos (91) and Montreal Canadiens defenseman Alexandre Carrier (45) vie for the puck during the second period of an NHL hockey game Sunday, April 6, 2025, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
Nashville Predators left wing Kieffer Bellows (26) falls over the stick of Montreal Canadiens left wing Juraj Slafkovský (20) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Sunday, April 6, 2025, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
Nashville Predators left wing Filip Forsberg (9) passes the puck backwards to Steven Stamkos (91) as Montreal Canadiens center Oliver Kapanen (91) follows during the second period of an NHL hockey game Sunday, April 6, 2025, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
Montreal Canadiens goaltender Jakub Dobes (75) makes a stop on a shot by Nashville Predators center Ryan O'Reilly (90) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Sunday, April 6, 2025, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
Nashville Predators center Ryan O'Reilly (90) and Montreal Canadiens defenseman Lane Hutson (48) chase the puck during the second period of an NHL hockey game Sunday, April 6, 2025, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
Montreal Canadiens right wing Brendan Gallagher (11) chases the puck ahead of Nashville Predators defenseman Jordan Oesterie (82) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Sunday, April 6, 2025, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
Nashville Predators left wing Zachary L'Heureux (68) and Montreal Canadiens goaltender Jakub Dobes (75) follow the puck during the second period of an NHL hockey game Sunday, April 6, 2025, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
