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    581 points mooreds | 20 comments | | HN request time: 2.006s | source | bottom
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    staplung ◴[] No.42176496[source]
    It's worth mentioning that cable breakages happen quite often; globally about 200 times per year [1] and the article itself mentions that just last year, two other cables and a gas pipeline were taken out by an anchor. The Gulf of Finland is evidently quite shallow. From what I understand, cable repair ships are likely to use ROVs for parts of repair jobs but only when the water is shallow so hopefully they can figure out whether the damage looks like sabotage before they sever the cable to repair it. Of course, if you're a bad actor and want plausible deniability, maybe you'd make it look like anchor damage or, deliberately drag an anchor right over the cables.

    Cable repairs are certainly annoying and for the operator of the cable, expensive. However, they are usually repaired relatively quickly. I'd be more worried if many more cables were severed at the same time. If you're only going to break one or two a year, you might as well not bother.

    1: https://www.theverge.com/c/24070570/internet-cables-undersea...

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    Etheryte ◴[] No.42177868[source]
    This is a misleading framing. The two cables last year were not taken out by an anchor as an accident, it was literally a ship putting down its anchor just before the cable and then dragging it over the cable. In other words, sabotage. There's no point in trying to color any of this with rose tinted glasses when it's clear who's done it and why.
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    1. dgfitz ◴[] No.42178794[source]
    When “coincidences” like this percolate up to the general public, I think it is in fact noteworthy.
    2. burkaman ◴[] No.42178804[source]
    There is strong circumstantial evidence (https://www.politico.eu/article/balticconnector-damage-likel...) and an open Estonian investigation. None of us know whether or not there is direct evidence that has not been made public.
    replies(2): >>42178868 #>>42180861 #
    3. SiempreViernes ◴[] No.42178868[source]
    Strong circumstantial evidence == minister said “I'm not the sea captain. But I would think that you would notice that you're dragging an anchor behind you for hundreds of kilometers”.
    4. gmerc ◴[] No.42179082[source]
    At certain odds, statistical likelihood is evidence
    5. rrr_oh_man ◴[] No.42180365[source]
    Don’t trust the Je… eh, Russians.

    I’m not sure whether you are serious with that xenophobic comment.

    replies(4): >>42180416 #>>42180864 #>>42182332 #>>42182626 #
    6. ◴[] No.42180382[source]
    7. denkmoon ◴[] No.42180383[source]
    I'm not sure a supporter of Putin's regime and Russian agitation in Europe would name themselves after Gorbachev...
    replies(2): >>42180646 #>>42181542 #
    8. theGeatZhopa ◴[] No.42180416{3}[source]
    did you just say JEHOVAH?

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cnn2aGVcCEc

    9. brnt ◴[] No.42180548[source]
    As is usually the case, before a crime is investigated.

    Hence investigations, good detectives, good hunches, etc.

    10. bashwizard ◴[] No.42180581[source]
    And then there's common sense. Something most people seems to lack.
    11. ◴[] No.42180646{3}[source]
    12. gorbachev ◴[] No.42180861[source]
    So no evidence then at all. It's just speculation.
    13. olivermuty ◴[] No.42180864{3}[source]
    Don’t trust the Russians has been safe doctrine in europe for several decades.

    Bandit state.

    replies(1): >>42181619 #
    14. chikere232 ◴[] No.42181542{3}[source]
    Obvious lying seems like part of the fun for russian propagandists so I wouldn't be surprised
    15. sabbaticaldev ◴[] No.42181619{4}[source]
    Same is said about the english, spanish, french, dutch colonizers, still didn’t pay for wreaking the world in their favor.
    replies(1): >>42182063 #
    16. Sabinus ◴[] No.42182063{5}[source]
    But for the French they all got rid of their colonies. Russia's historical land empire lives on, and the breakup of their most recent greater one is mourned by their current leader. Lets have some perspective.
    replies(1): >>42182372 #
    17. oneshtein ◴[] No.42182332{3}[source]
    Comment is not xenophobic, it's anti-imperialistic.
    18. sabbaticaldev ◴[] No.42182372{6}[source]
    great example, the french. Still encrusted north of brazil and calling themselves part of the Amazon. you really should have some perspective
    replies(1): >>42189114 #
    19. usrusr ◴[] No.42182626{3}[source]
    Some xenos appear to have few other goals in life than getting feared. It would almost appear impolite to not give them what they desire so much.
    20. Sabinus ◴[] No.42189114{7}[source]
    I'm not interested in participating in your 'whatabout those evil European colonisers'. Pointing to historical colonies and injustice to excuse worse from Russia now isn't adding to the conversation.
    replies(1): >>42192018 #