Swedish authorities said Friday they were investigating suspected damage to an underwater cable in the Baltic Sea, following a string of incidents experts believe are acts of sabotage orchestrated by Russia.
Finnish operator Cinia said it had recorded "some disturbance" on its C-Lion 1 communications cable linking Finland and Germany.
"However, the disturbance does not affect the functionality of telecommunications connections running in the cable and the data traffic continues flowing normally," it said in a statement, adding that the cause was "still under investigation".
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The same cable had previously been cut in November last year with suspicions falling on a Chinese ship.
A string of incidents involving damage to cables and other infrastructure in the Baltic Sea have occurred in recent months, amid soaring tensions between the West and Russia over Moscow's war in Ukraine.
Swedish police spokesman Mathias Rutegard told AFP an investigation into suspected "sabotage" had been opened following the latest incident, which occurred east of the Swedish island of Gotland.
"We have opened a preliminary investigation into a suspected broken cable in the Baltic Sea and within the Swedish economic zone," Rutegard said.
Police later said in a statement that they had "no suspect" at this stage.
<h2><hl2>'Serious security situation'</hl2></h2>
A spokeswoman for the Swedish coast guard, Karin Cars, told AFP they had sent a ship to the site east of Sweden's island of Gotland and were "assisting with the crime scene investigation".
Cars said she did not have information about when the damage occurred, but said the coast guard had started heading towards the site the night before.
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Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said in a post to X that the government was monitoring the situation.
"We take all reports of possible damage to infrastructure in the Baltic Sea very seriously. As I have said before, they must be seen in the context of the serious security situation," Kristersson said.
The European Commission said Friday it would step up security requirements for underwater cables and prioritise financing for the deployment of new and smart cables.
It also said the EU would increase the capacity for the swift repair of damaged cables and would enforce sanctions against "hostile actors" and the "shadow fleet".
Security analysts say Russia is operating a "shadow fleet" of hundreds of vessels, aiming to dodge Western sanctions -- some of which are accused of damaging cables.
<h2><hl2>Mounting tensions</hl2></h2>
Western officials have accused Russian vessels of sabotaging undersea communications and power cables in several high-profile incidents in the Baltic Sea in recent months.
European leaders and experts suspect acts of "hybrid warfare" against Western countries supporting Ukraine, and are calling for increased maritime security.
Tensions have mounted around the Baltic Sea since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
A series of underwater blasts ruptured the Nord Stream pipelines that carried Russian gas to Europe in September 2022, the cause of which has yet to be determined.
In October 2023, an undersea gas pipeline between Finland and Estonia was shut down after it was damaged by the anchor of a Chinese cargo ship.
Two telecom cables, including the C-Lion 1, were severed in Swedish waters on November 17-18 last year.
And weeks later, on December 25, the Estlink 2 electricity cable and four telecom cables linking Finland and Estonia were damaged.
In January, NATO announced the launch of a Baltic Sea patrol mission, Baltic Sentry, to secure critical underwater infrastructure.
Earlier this week, UN experts told AFP that fishing trawlers were responsible for far more damage to underwater cables than nefarious activities.
According to the International Cable Protection Committee (ICPC), there are an average of 150 to 200 outages per year worldwide, or around three incidents a week.
Tomas Lamanauskas, the deputy head of the United Nations' International Telecommunications Union (ITU), told AFP that fishing and anchoring is responsible for 80 percent of all recorded damage.
Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

World: Finnish operator Cinia said it had recorded "some disturbance" on its C-Lion 1 communications cable linking Finland and Germany.

Swedish authorities said Friday they were investigating suspected damage to an underwater cable in the Baltic Sea, following a string of incidents experts believe are acts of sabotage orchestrated by Russia. Finnish operator Cinia said it had recorded "some disturbance" on its C-Lion 1 communications cable linking Finland and Germany. "However, the disturbance does not affect the functionality of telecommunications connections running in the cable and the data traffic continues flowing normally," it said in a statement, adding that the cause was "still under investigation". Also read: ‘He's not important’: Trump dismisses Zelensky’s role in Ukraine talks, says war wasn’t ‘Russia’s fault’ The same cable had previously been cut in November last year with suspicions falling on a Chinese ship. A string of incidents involving damage to cables and other infrastructure in the Baltic Sea have occurred in recent months, amid soaring tensions between the West and Russia over Moscow's war in Ukraine. Swedish police spokesman Mathias Rutegard told AFP an investigation into suspected "sabotage" had been opened following the latest incident, which occurred east of the Swedish island of Gotland. "We have opened a preliminary investigation into a suspected broken cable in the Baltic Sea and within the Swedish economic zone," Rutegard said. Police later said in a statement that they had "no suspect" at this stage. 'Serious security situation' A spokeswoman for the Swedish coast guard, Karin Cars, told AFP they had sent a ship to the site east of Sweden's island of Gotland and were "assisting with the crime scene investigation". Cars said she did not have information about when the damage occurred, but said the coast guard had started heading towards the site the night before. Also read: Another year, another pandemic? China discovers new bat coronavirus that poses risks to humans Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said in a post to X that the government was monitoring the situation. "We take all reports of possible damage to infrastructure in the Baltic Sea very seriously. As I have said before, they must be seen in the context of the serious security situation," Kristersson said. The European Commission said Friday it would step up security requirements for underwater cables and prioritise financing for the deployment of new and smart cables. It also said the EU would increase the capacity for the swift repair of damaged cables and would enforce sanctions against "hostile actors" and the "shadow fleet". Security analysts say Russia is operating a "shadow fleet" of hundreds of vessels, aiming to dodge Western sanctions -- some of which are accused of damaging cables. Mounting tensions Western officials have accused Russian vessels of sabotaging undersea communications and power cables in several high-profile incidents in the Baltic Sea in recent months. European leaders and experts suspect acts of "hybrid warfare" against Western countries supporting Ukraine, and are calling for increased maritime security. Tensions have mounted around the Baltic Sea since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. A series of underwater blasts ruptured the Nord Stream pipelines that carried Russian gas to Europe in September 2022, the cause of which has yet to be determined. In October 2023, an undersea gas pipeline between Finland and Estonia was shut down after it was damaged by the anchor of a Chinese cargo ship. Two telecom cables, including the C-Lion 1, were severed in Swedish waters on November 17-18 last year. And weeks later, on December 25, the Estlink 2 electricity cable and four telecom cables linking Finland and Estonia were damaged. In January, NATO announced the launch of a Baltic Sea patrol mission, Baltic Sentry, to secure critical underwater infrastructure. Earlier this week, UN experts told AFP that fishing trawlers were responsible for far more damage to underwater cables than nefarious activities. According to the International Cable Protection Committee (ICPC), there are an average of 150 to 200 outages per year worldwide, or around three incidents a week. Tomas Lamanauskas, the deputy head of the United Nations' International Telecommunications Union (ITU), told AFP that fishing and anchoring is responsible for 80 percent of all recorded damage. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Sweden probes Baltic Sea cable sabotage as fears of Russian ‘hybrid warfare’ grow

Finland on Thursday (Dec 27) detained a tanker carrying Russian oil as part of an investigation into damage to an undersea cable in the Baltic Sea. The cable, known as Estlink-2, supplies electricity between Finland and Estonia.
According to Finnish customs and the European Commission, the tanker could belong to Russia&rsquo;s so-called &ldquo;shadow fleet&rdquo; of oil tankers, Associated Press news agency reported.
The detained vessel, Eagle S, is registered in the Cook Islands. The Finnish National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) said in a statement that the ship&rsquo;s anchor may have caused the cable damage.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/finland-probes-russia-linked-tanker-over-sabotage-of-undersea-power-cable-8568797">Finland probes Russia-linked tanker over 'sabotage' of undersea cable</a>
Robin Lardot, director of the NBI, said, &ldquo;From our side, we are investigating grave sabotage. According to our understanding, an anchor of the vessel that is under investigation has caused the damage.&rdquo;
The ship was reportedly travelling between St. Petersburg, Russia, and Port Said, Egypt, and was flying under the flag of the Cook Islands, according to MarineTraffic, a global ship tracking service.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/sweden-accuses-china-of-blocking-probe-of-ship-linked-to-cut-baltic-sea-cables-786274">Sweden accuses China of blocking probe of ship linked to Baltic Sea cables damage</a>
The damage to the Estlink-2 cable was first reported on Wednesday, which led Finnish authorities to launch a full-scale investigation. Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo posted about the incident on X (formerly Twitter), highlighting the broader threat posed by shadow fleets used by Russia. 
"Our main task is to find effective means to stop the shadow fleet," he said, according to The New York Times. 
"The shadow fleet pumps money into Russia's war fund so that Russia can continue to wage its war in Ukraine against the people of Ukraine, and it has to be stopped," he added.
A spokesperson for the US National Security Council called for stronger international cooperation to protect critical undersea infrastructure, highlighting the importance of coordinated efforts.
<h2>'Ready to provide further support': NATO</h2>
NATO Chief Mark Rutte also condemned the attack, saying, &ldquo;NATO stands in solidarity with Allies and condemns any attacks on critical infrastructure. We are following investigations by Estonia and Finland, and we stand ready to provide further support.&rdquo;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/zelensky-says-ukraines-nato-membership-is-achievable-but-diplomats-need-to-fight-for-it-786058">Zelensky says Ukraine&rsquo;s NATO membership is &lsquo;achievable&rsquo; but diplomats need to fight for it</a>
The use of shadow fleets by Russia to evade Western sanctions has been a growing concern. Many of these vessels, often old and difficult to trace, are used to transport oil and other goods. 
The Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air, a Finnish think tank, reported that over half of the 369 tankers exporting Russian crude oil and petroleum products in November belonged to these shadow fleets.
(With inputs from agencies)

According to Finnish customs and the European Union's executive commission, the tanker could belong to Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet” of oil tankers.

Finland on Thursday (Dec 27) detained a tanker carrying Russian oil as part of an investigation into damage to an undersea cable in the Baltic Sea. The cable, known as Estlink-2, supplies electricity between Finland and Estonia. According to Finnish customs and the European Commission, the tanker could belong to Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet” of oil tankers, Associated Press news agency reported. The detained vessel, Eagle S, is registered in the Cook Islands. The Finnish National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) said in a statement that the ship’s anchor may have caused the cable damage. Also read: Finland probes Russia-linked tanker over 'sabotage' of undersea cable Robin Lardot, director of the NBI, said, “From our side, we are investigating grave sabotage. According to our understanding, an anchor of the vessel that is under investigation has caused the damage.” The ship was reportedly travelling between St. Petersburg, Russia, and Port Said, Egypt, and was flying under the flag of the Cook Islands, according to MarineTraffic, a global ship tracking service. Also read: Sweden accuses China of blocking probe of ship linked to Baltic Sea cables damage The damage to the Estlink-2 cable was first reported on Wednesday, which led Finnish authorities to launch a full-scale investigation. Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo posted about the incident on X (formerly Twitter), highlighting the broader threat posed by shadow fleets used by Russia. "Our main task is to find effective means to stop the shadow fleet," he said, according to The New York Times. "The shadow fleet pumps money into Russia's war fund so that Russia can continue to wage its war in Ukraine against the people of Ukraine, and it has to be stopped," he added. A spokesperson for the US National Security Council called for stronger international cooperation to protect critical undersea infrastructure, highlighting the importance of coordinated efforts. 'Ready to provide further support': NATO NATO Chief Mark Rutte also condemned the attack, saying, “NATO stands in solidarity with Allies and condemns any attacks on critical infrastructure. We are following investigations by Estonia and Finland, and we stand ready to provide further support.” Also read: Zelensky says Ukraine’s NATO membership is ‘achievable’ but diplomats need to fight for it The use of shadow fleets by Russia to evade Western sanctions has been a growing concern. Many of these vessels, often old and difficult to trace, are used to transport oil and other goods. The Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air, a Finnish think tank, reported that over half of the 369 tankers exporting Russian crude oil and petroleum products in November belonged to these shadow fleets. (With inputs from agencies)

Finland detains Russian oil tanker linked to Baltic sea cable damage; NATO offers 'support'

Finnish authorities said Thursday that they were investigating an oil tanker that sailed from a Russian port over the "sabotage" of a power cable linking Finland and Estonia that was damaged the previous day.
On Christmas Day, the Estlink 2 submarine cable that carries electricity from Finland to Estonia was disconnected from the grid, just over a month after two telecommunications cables were severed in Swedish territorial waters in the Baltic Sea.&nbsp;
Robin Lardot of Finland's National Bureau of Investigation said a probe for "aggravated sabotage" had been opened into the oil tanker Eagle S, which flies under the flag of the Cook Islands in the South Pacific.
"The assumption at the moment is that it is a shadow fleet vessel and the cargo was unleaded petrol loaded in a Russian port," said Sami Rakshit, director general of Finnish Customs.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/sweden-accuses-china-of-blocking-probe-of-ship-linked-to-cut-baltic-sea-cables-786274">Sweden accuses China of blocking probe of ship linked to Baltic Sea cables damage</a>
The shadow fleet refers to ships that transport Russian crude and oil products that are embargoed due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
The Eagle S was en route to Port Said in Egypt and is still located in the Gulf of Finland, according to the tracking website Marine Traffic.&nbsp;
It was escorted by a Finnish patrol ship toward the coast near Porkkala, around 30 kilometres (19 miles) west of Helsinki.
"We have already boarded the vessel, spoken with the crew and gathered evidence," Lardot said.&nbsp;
<h2>'Something strange'&nbsp;</h2>
Police suspect that the oil tanker's anchor might have damaged the power cable.
"Our patrol vessel travelled to the area and could determine visually that the vessel's anchor was missing," Markku Hassinen of the Finnish Border Guard told a news conference.
"So there is a clear reason to suspect something strange happened," he said.
Finland's Prime Minister Petteri Orpo called the cable disruption "very serious" at a press conference on Thursday.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/major-escalation-as-russian-warship-accused-of-firing-flare-ammo-at-german-helicopter-781724">Major escalation as Russian warship accused of firing flare ammo at German helicopter</a>
"This is why the decisive and determined action by our authorities today and yesterday with regards to this ship in our territorial waters sends a strong message to other ships: We will intervene," he said.&nbsp;
He did not specifically incriminate Russia, adding that the two countries had not yet had any contact over the incident.
But Estonia's Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna said: "The damages to critical underwater infrastructure have become so frequent that it's hard to believe they are accidents or just bad maritime manoeuvres."
Dragging an anchor on the seafloor can hardly be considered an accident, Tsahkna added in a statement after talks with his Finnish counterpart on Thursday afternoon.
The EU on Thursday threatened further sanctions against Russian vessels.
"We strongly condemn any deliberate destruction of Europe's critical infrastructure," the European Commission and the EU's foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said in a joint statement.
"The suspected vessel is part of Russia's shadow fleet, which threatens security and the environment, while funding Russia's war budget," they added.
"We will propose further measures, including sanctions, to target this fleet."
<h2>EU tankers blacklist&nbsp;</h2>
EU countries agreed earlier this month to blacklist around 50 more oil tankers from Russia's "shadow fleet", used to circumvent Western sanctions over the Ukraine war.
The move was part of a 15th package of sanctions to be imposed by the 27-nation bloc since Moscow's invasion.
Tensions have mounted around the Baltic since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
In September 2022, a series of underwater blasts ruptured the Nord Stream pipelines that carried Russian gas to Europe, the cause of which has yet to be determined.
In October 2023, an undersea gas pipeline between Finland and Estonia was shut down after it was damaged by the anchor of a Chinese cargo ship.
Early on November 17 this year, the Arelion telecommunications cable running from the Swedish island of Gotland to Lithuania was damaged.
The next day, the C-Lion 1 submarine cable connecting Helsinki and the German port of Rostock was cut south of Sweden's Oland island.
Suspicions concerning the November 17 incident focused on a Chinese-flagged vessel, the Yi Peng 3, which was in the area at the time.&nbsp;
Sweden said Monday that China had denied a request for prosecutors to conduct an investigation on the vessel and that it had left the area.
European officials have said they suspect several of the incidents are sabotage linked to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The Kremlin has dismissed that claim as "absurd" and "laughable".
Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Robin Lardot of Finland's National Bureau of Investigation said a probe for "aggravated sabotage" had been opened into the oil tanker Eagle S. 

Finnish authorities said Thursday that they were investigating an oil tanker that sailed from a Russian port over the "sabotage" of a power cable linking Finland and Estonia that was damaged the previous day. On Christmas Day, the Estlink 2 submarine cable that carries electricity from Finland to Estonia was disconnected from the grid, just over a month after two telecommunications cables were severed in Swedish territorial waters in the Baltic Sea. Robin Lardot of Finland's National Bureau of Investigation said a probe for "aggravated sabotage" had been opened into the oil tanker Eagle S, which flies under the flag of the Cook Islands in the South Pacific. "The assumption at the moment is that it is a shadow fleet vessel and the cargo was unleaded petrol loaded in a Russian port," said Sami Rakshit, director general of Finnish Customs. Also read: Sweden accuses China of blocking probe of ship linked to Baltic Sea cables damage The shadow fleet refers to ships that transport Russian crude and oil products that are embargoed due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The Eagle S was en route to Port Said in Egypt and is still located in the Gulf of Finland, according to the tracking website Marine Traffic. It was escorted by a Finnish patrol ship toward the coast near Porkkala, around 30 kilometres (19 miles) west of Helsinki. "We have already boarded the vessel, spoken with the crew and gathered evidence," Lardot said. 'Something strange' Police suspect that the oil tanker's anchor might have damaged the power cable. "Our patrol vessel travelled to the area and could determine visually that the vessel's anchor was missing," Markku Hassinen of the Finnish Border Guard told a news conference. "So there is a clear reason to suspect something strange happened," he said. Finland's Prime Minister Petteri Orpo called the cable disruption "very serious" at a press conference on Thursday. Also read: Major escalation as Russian warship accused of firing flare ammo at German helicopter "This is why the decisive and determined action by our authorities today and yesterday with regards to this ship in our territorial waters sends a strong message to other ships: We will intervene," he said. He did not specifically incriminate Russia, adding that the two countries had not yet had any contact over the incident. But Estonia's Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna said: "The damages to critical underwater infrastructure have become so frequent that it's hard to believe they are accidents or just bad maritime manoeuvres." Dragging an anchor on the seafloor can hardly be considered an accident, Tsahkna added in a statement after talks with his Finnish counterpart on Thursday afternoon. The EU on Thursday threatened further sanctions against Russian vessels. "We strongly condemn any deliberate destruction of Europe's critical infrastructure," the European Commission and the EU's foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said in a joint statement. "The suspected vessel is part of Russia's shadow fleet, which threatens security and the environment, while funding Russia's war budget," they added. "We will propose further measures, including sanctions, to target this fleet." EU tankers blacklist EU countries agreed earlier this month to blacklist around 50 more oil tankers from Russia's "shadow fleet", used to circumvent Western sanctions over the Ukraine war. The move was part of a 15th package of sanctions to be imposed by the 27-nation bloc since Moscow's invasion. Tensions have mounted around the Baltic since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. In September 2022, a series of underwater blasts ruptured the Nord Stream pipelines that carried Russian gas to Europe, the cause of which has yet to be determined. In October 2023, an undersea gas pipeline between Finland and Estonia was shut down after it was damaged by the anchor of a Chinese cargo ship. Early on November 17 this year, the Arelion telecommunications cable running from the Swedish island of Gotland to Lithuania was damaged. The next day, the C-Lion 1 submarine cable connecting Helsinki and the German port of Rostock was cut south of Sweden's Oland island. Suspicions concerning the November 17 incident focused on a Chinese-flagged vessel, the Yi Peng 3, which was in the area at the time. Sweden said Monday that China had denied a request for prosecutors to conduct an investigation on the vessel and that it had left the area. European officials have said they suspect several of the incidents are sabotage linked to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The Kremlin has dismissed that claim as "absurd" and "laughable". Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Finland probes Russia-linked tanker over 'sabotage' of undersea cable

Italy, Spain, and Greece on Wednesday (Nov. 20) shut down their embassies in Kyiv following a similar move by the US earlier in the day.&nbsp;The US embassy had warned&nbsp;of a potential significant air attack, citing "specific information".

Meanwhile, the Kremlin has&nbsp;announced that a “freeze” of the conflict along the existing frontlines is not acceptable to Moscow, an indication that Russia was willing to continue the war as Ukraine continues to occupy parts of its Kursk Oblast.

During a press conference, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov also accused the Joe Biden administration in the US of adding fuel to the fire, saying Washington, DC, was doing everything possible to continue the war.

"If you look at the trends of the outgoing US administration, they are fully committed to continuing the war in Ukraine and are doing everything they can to do so," he said.

Speaking of US approval to Ukraine for using long-range missiles for strikes inside Russia, Peskov said Russia was not alerted beforehand by Western officials.

<h2>Biden administration steps up weapons delivery to Ukraine</h2>

Earlier, it was reported that Biden has authorised the transfer of anti-personnel landmines to Ukraine. As per a Washington Post report citing unnamed US officials, the land mines are described as "nonpersistent", which means they are designed to self-destruct or deactivate within a set timeframe to minimise risks to civilians.

Also read:&nbsp;<a data-ved="2ahUKEwiusLWL3-qJAxXfyqACHTv2GRMQxfQBKAB6BAgKEAE" href="https://www.wionews.com/world/biden-approves-antipersonnel-land-mines-for-ukraine-amid-escalating-conflict-with-russia-report-777545" jsname="YKoRaf" ping="/url?sa=t&amp;source=web&amp;rct=j&amp;opi=89978449&amp;url=https://www.wionews.com/world/biden-approves-antipersonnel-land-mines-for-ukraine-amid-escalating-conflict-with-russia-report-777545&amp;ved=2ahUKEwiusLWL3-qJAxXfyqACHTv2GRMQxfQBKAB6BAgKEAE">Biden approves anti-personnel land mines for Ukraine amid escalating conflict with Russia: Report</a>

The US has, however, sought a promise from Kyiv that the landmines will only be used within Ukrainian territories.

<h2>Moscow denies role in Baltic sea cable sabotage</h2>

The Kremlin also rubbished allegations that Russia was behind the cutting of telecommunications cables running under the Baltic Sea. One undersea cable was cut between Lithuania and Sweden on Sunday (Nov. 17) morning, prompting European officials to raise concerns over alleged Russian hybrid warfare. Another cable linking Finland and Germany was also disrupted, according to telecommunication companies.

Also read:&nbsp;<a data-ved="2ahUKEwiusLWL3-qJAxXfyqACHTv2GRMQxfQBKAB6BAgOEAE" href="https://www.wionews.com/world/1000-days-of-russia-and-ukraine-war-inside-defence-revolution-as-drones-take-over-the-battlefield-777063" jsname="YKoRaf" ping="/url?sa=t&amp;source=web&amp;rct=j&amp;opi=89978449&amp;url=https://www.wionews.com/world/1000-days-of-russia-and-ukraine-war-inside-defence-revolution-as-drones-take-over-the-battlefield-777063&amp;ved=2ahUKEwiusLWL3-qJAxXfyqACHTv2GRMQxfQBKAB6BAgOEAE">1,000 days of Russia and Ukraine war: Inside defence revolution as drones take over the battlefield</a>

"It's quite absurd to keep blaming Russia for everything without any grounds. It is laughable in the context of the lack of any reaction to Ukraine's sabotage activities in the Baltic Sea," Peskov said.

(With inputs from agencies)

Italy, Spain, and Greece on Wednesday (Nov. 20) shut down their embassies in Kyiv following a similar move by the US earlier in the day. The US embassy had warned of a potential significant air attack, citing "specific information".

Italy, Spain, and Greece on Wednesday (Nov. 20) shut down their embassies in Kyiv following a similar move by the US earlier in the day. The US embassy had warned of a potential significant air attack, citing "specific information". Meanwhile, the Kremlin has announced that a “freeze” of the conflict along the existing frontlines is not acceptable to Moscow, an indication that Russia was willing to continue the war as Ukraine continues to occupy parts of its Kursk Oblast. During a press conference, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov also accused the Joe Biden administration in the US of adding fuel to the fire, saying Washington, DC, was doing everything possible to continue the war. "If you look at the trends of the outgoing US administration, they are fully committed to continuing the war in Ukraine and are doing everything they can to do so," he said. Speaking of US approval to Ukraine for using long-range missiles for strikes inside Russia, Peskov said Russia was not alerted beforehand by Western officials. Biden administration steps up weapons delivery to Ukraine Earlier, it was reported that Biden has authorised the transfer of anti-personnel landmines to Ukraine. As per a Washington Post report citing unnamed US officials, the land mines are described as "nonpersistent", which means they are designed to self-destruct or deactivate within a set timeframe to minimise risks to civilians. Also read: Biden approves anti-personnel land mines for Ukraine amid escalating conflict with Russia: Report The US has, however, sought a promise from Kyiv that the landmines will only be used within Ukrainian territories. Moscow denies role in Baltic sea cable sabotage The Kremlin also rubbished allegations that Russia was behind the cutting of telecommunications cables running under the Baltic Sea. One undersea cable was cut between Lithuania and Sweden on Sunday (Nov. 17) morning, prompting European officials to raise concerns over alleged Russian hybrid warfare. Another cable linking Finland and Germany was also disrupted, according to telecommunication companies. Also read: 1,000 days of Russia and Ukraine war: Inside defence revolution as drones take over the battlefield "It's quite absurd to keep blaming Russia for everything without any grounds. It is laughable in the context of the lack of any reaction to Ukraine's sabotage activities in the Baltic Sea," Peskov said. (With inputs from agencies)

Italy, Spain, Greece close embassies in Kyiv after US; Kremlin rejects ‘freeze’ on Ukraine war

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Sweden probes Baltic Sea cable sabotage as fears of Russian ‘hybrid warfare’ grow

Finland detains Russian oil tanker linked to Baltic sea cable damage; NATO offers 'support'

Finland probes Russia-linked tanker over 'sabotage' of undersea cable

Italy, Spain, Greece close embassies in Kyiv after US; Kremlin rejects ‘freeze’ on Ukraine war