Crew on board an oil tanker accused of sabotaging undersea power and communications cables in the Baltic Sea were poised to cut other cables and pipelines when Finnish authorities boarded the vessel last month,

NATO is launching a new mission to protect undersea cables in the Baltic Sea region after a string of incidents that have heightened fears of Russian sabotage and spying in the strategic region, the alliance's leader said on Tuesday.

NATO launched a new Baltic Sea mission that will add military capabilities into the strategic waterway as concerns over suspected Russian sabotage and aggression in the area ratchet up.

The incidents contributed to mounting European fears of sabotage, as NATO officials accuse Russia of a growing “destabilization campaign” over their military support for Ukraine and sanctions against Moscow.

NATO has launched a mission to safeguard critical underwater infrastructure on the Baltic Sea floor. This operation follows previous incidents involving interruptions to submarine cables, likely planned by Russia.

NATO has launched a mission to safeguard critical underwater infrastructure on the Baltic Sea floor. The operation follows previous incidents of interruptions to submarine cables, most likely planned by Russia.

NATO is stepping up its response over what it sees as an increasing threat to vital infrastructure in the Baltic Sea. Its new mission "Baltic Sentry" aims to protect undersea cables from sabotage after a spate of alleged attacks with a Russia-linked so-called shadow fleet involved.

Why has NATO launched a new operation in the Baltic Sea? Are the sanctions against Russia by the EU and US really working? Carl Bildt, former prime minister of Sweden and co-chair of the European Council on Foreign Relations,

NATO has launched a mission to safeguard critical underwater infrastructure on the floor of the Baltic Sea. The operation follows previous incidents of interruptions to submarine cables, most likely planned by Russia.