Swedish officials are calling it “gross sabotage” after an undersea communications cable in the Baltic Sea was damaged over the weekend. The incident has sparked an investigation, with authorities boarding a cargo ship near Karlskrona, Sweden, on Monday. The vessel was escorted to shore for further inspection, though details about the extent of the damage remain under wraps.

This isn’t the first time something like this has happened. Over the past few months, similar incidents have raised alarms in the region, leading NATO to ramp up its military presence. Just two weeks ago, the alliance launched Baltic Sentry, a new operation aimed at protecting critical underwater infrastructure like cables and pipelines. The mission includes frigates, drones, and other high-tech tools to monitor the area.

The Baltic Sea has become a hotspot for potential hybrid warfare, with tensions simmering between NATO and Russia, which shares a coastline with the sea. While no one has officially pointed fingers, the timing of these incidents has many raising eyebrows.

For now, Swedish authorities are tight-lipped about the specifics of the damage or who might be behind it. But one thing’s clear: the stakes are high, and the region is on edge. Stay tuned as this story develops.