8 month agoThe Newnew Polar Bear left Arkhangelsk this morning and is heading north in the White Sea. AIS destination on Marinetraffic is "Meeting icebreaker". Interestingly, the NNPB got a new NSR application approved on Oct 19th, for Nov 1st to 15th. The old expires on Oct 31st
8 month agoFirst picture of the damaged balticconector pipeline. Source Finnish border guard. Drag westwards pipeline multiple meters wide
Finnish police: object found near broken Baltic Sea pipeline has been identified as an anchor
Sweden PM says he doesn't set any dates for his country's NATO entry and that he got assurances that Hungary won't delay the process
Ministry of Defence of Sweden: It has been confirmed that the telecommunications cable between Sweden and Estonia was damaged through external force or tampering. NATO has increased their presence in the Baltic Sea by deploying a minesweeping vessel and increased air surveillance
Sweden's NATO Accession Protocol was signed by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and sent to the Turkish Grand National Assembly
One arrested after the explosion in southern Stockholm
Swedish Foreign Ministry: What is important at this stage is the delivery of aid to the Gaza Strip
Russian Foreign Ministry: if the passage of Russian ships in the Baltic Sea is stopped because of Balticconnector, this will be a violation of international law
8 month agoFinnish police: Baltic sea pipeline investigation is now focused on the role of the vessel Newpolar Bear
Biden talking about how Putin will not stop with Ukraine. Biden vows to defend "every inch of NATO" territory, and does "not seek to have US troops fight in Russia"
Russian Foreign Minister Shoigu: it is possible that NATO bases and strike weapons will appear in Finland and Sweden in the near future
"The security policy situation in our immediate area has deteriorated" said Swedish defence minister Jonson at the presser
Swedish civil defence minister says have received information that a telecoms cable between Estonia and Sweden has been damaged; the damage occured at a similar time to the damage to the pipeline between Finland and Estonia
There will be a Swedish press-conference later today, featuring the Ministers for Defense and Civil Protection, Navy and Coast Guard Chiefs on "a new development regarding sea floor critical infrastructure concerning Sweden"
8 month agoEarlier this week, Latvian educational institutions received a letter with threats to blow up a bomb in schools and claims that Latvia is a part of Russia. The same happened today in Estonia, with over 300 educational institutions receiving a letter
Kaja Kallas: I called @jensstoltenberg to brief him on the incidents related to Balticconnector and a submarine communications cable between Estonia and Finland.We discussed how to increase the protection of critical infrastructure in light of this.We agreed to remain in close contact
Estonian Ministers: #Balticconnector pipeline damage was deliberate. DefMin: "picture we have from the pipeline tells us that the damage had to have been done by something greater than a diver or unmanned submersible. The damage is more extensive"
8 month agoNorwegian independent seismic monitoring foundation NORSAR: "NORSAR have detected a probable explosion along the Finnish coast of the Baltic Sea at 01:20 (local time in Finland) on 8th October 2023. This explosion was detected using stations in Finland
The Estonian minister of defence will also hold a press conference about the underwater incidents in the Gulf of Finland, at about 17:30 CET
The foreign minister of Finland will brief EU colleagues about the sabotage on the Balticconnector this afternoon
Finnish prime minister first comments (presser to follow at 17:30 Finnish time):- gas pipeline damage in Finland's exclusive economic zone;- data cable damage in Estonia´s exclusive economic zone; - Nato allies and EU partners kept in the loop
Jens Stoltenberg: Spoke with President Sauli @niinisto on damage to undersea infrastructure between Estonia & Finland. NATO is sharing information & stands ready to support Allies concerned
Finnish president: "It's likely that both the pipeline and data cable damages are results of outside activity. Cause not yet established, joint Finnish-Estonian investigation ongoing."
8 month agoFinnish national broadcaster YLE referring to it's sources: seems #balticconnector leak was not an accident. Navy Mine countermeasures vessel MHC Purunpää and Border Guard offshore patrol vessel Turva on site. Finnish gov to hold presser today
Finland gas pipeline leak probe proceeding on premise of potential sabotage, according to people familiar with the matter - Bloomberg
8 month agoReuters: Finland’s Gasgrid & Estonia’s Elering state survey work will begin soon after sudden drop in pressure of Balticconnector natural gas pipeline spanning Gulf of Finland yesterday, suggesting a leak. Elering affirms that no cause “including sabotage” can be ruled out for the time being
Swedish Ministry of Defense: Our condition for sending fighter planes to Ukraine is to obtain NATO membership first
Latvia is closing one of its two border crossing points with Belarus. Silene border crossing
From 10 a.m. on September 13, Estonia prohibits the entry into the country of vehicles with license plates of the Russian Federation. Information was officially confirmed by the Estonian Foreign Ministry
