"The exact extent of the damage can only be determined once repair work begins," writes the Latvian government's office in a press release. The cable, which belongs to the state-owned company Latvia State Radio and Television Center (LVRTC), was damaged on the stretch between Ventspils and Gotland in Sweden's economic zone. The company is using alternative data transmission routes to minimise the impact on services in Latvia, although some delay in data traffic may occur.
"We are now conducting a number of concrete investigative measures, but I cannot elaborate on them due to the ongoing preliminary investigation. Several authorities, including the Police's National Operations Department, the Coast Guard, and the Armed Forces, are involved in the investigation," says Mats Ljungqvist, senior prosecutor at the National Unit for Security Cases, in a press release from the Prosecutor's Office.
The Security Service writes that the agency is conducting the preliminary investigation as it may involve a "serious crime that could at least partially be directed against Swedish interests." The Coast Guard assists the investigation by gathering information about the maritime situation and vessel movements in the area.
Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson has announced that Sweden is working closely with Latvia and NATO in the effort to investigate the incident. "Sweden will contribute important capabilities to the ongoing effort to investigate the suspected incident," the Prime Minister wrote on Twitter.
Latvia's Prime Minister Evika Siliņa has also stated that the country is working together with Sweden and NATO to patrol the area and inspect vessels that were in the vicinity at the time of the damage.