←back to thread

Yi Peng 3 crossed both cables C-Lion 1 and BSC at times matching when they broke

(bsky.app)
499 points perihelions | 10 comments | 20 Nov 24 06:56 UTC | HN request time: 0.001s | source | bottom
Show context
nabla9 ◴[20 Nov 24 08:15 UTC] No.42191758[source]▶
October 2023 there was similar incident where Chinese cargo ship cut Balticonnector cable and EE-S1 cable. Chip named 'Newnew Polar Bear' under Chinese flag and Chinese company Hainan Xin Xin Yang Shipping Co, Ltd. (aka Torgmoll) with CEO named Yelena V. Maksimova, drags anchor in the seabed cutting cables. Chinese investigation claims storm was the reason, but there was no storm, just normal windy autumn weather. The ship just lowered one anchor and dragged it with engines running long time across the seabed until the anchor broke.

These things happen sometimes, ship anchors sometimes damage cables, but not this often and without serious problems in the ship. Russians are attempting plausible deniability.

replies(8): >>42191786 #>>42191808 #>>42191875 #>>42191880 #>>42192160 #>>42197213 #>>42197559 #>>42201843 #
spongebobstoes ◴[20 Nov 24 08:20 UTC] No.42191786[source]▶
What are some concrete reasons why someone would want to damage these cables? Who benefits?
replies(13): >>42191804 #>>42191926 #>>42191944 #>>42192093 #>>42192712 #>>42192787 #>>42192798 #>>42193528 #>>42193799 #>>42194242 #>>42196876 #>>42197632 #>>42201184 #
flohofwoe ◴[20 Nov 24 08:47 UTC] No.42191944[source]▶
Assuming it was intentional, just trying the waters. Testing what the response is, who actually responds versus who's willing to sweep the incident under the carpet, how hard any response is and how quickly it happens, how much of the internet infrastructure is affected for how long, etc... etc... that's a lot of useful information as preparation for an actual attack.
replies(2): >>42192856 #>>42193015 #
eric-hu ◴[20 Nov 24 11:25 UTC] No.42192856[source]▶
This is really interesting how you’ve explained it.

In many professional fights the competitors start matches with light, quick jabs to probe their opponents defense.

This feels just like that now that you put it this way. I never connected those dots though.

replies(2): >>42192927 #>>42198126 #
diggan ◴[20 Nov 24 11:38 UTC] No.42192927[source]▶
Maybe it's because I'm Swedish and we've experienced Russia's "probing defenses" tactic for a very long time (mainly "breaking" into Swedish airspace with airplanes, and discovering submarines at the Swedish shores), but I always thought this was common knowledge, always interesting to learn it isn't for everyone :)
replies(3): >>42193060 #>>42194705 #>>42196849 #
lifestyleguru ◴[20 Nov 24 11:57 UTC] No.42193060[source]▶
The situation escalated beyond probing, this is tit for tat response for Ukraine getting and launching US tactical missiles. Russia seems to be now aggressively monitoring and raiding the submarine pipes and cables. Blowing up of Nord Stream made Russia go ballistic.
replies(3): >>42193313 #>>42193317 #>>42195617 #
1. diggan ◴[20 Nov 24 12:26 UTC] No.42193313[source]▶
> The situation escalated beyond probing

Not sure we understand "probing" differently. Russian currently is at the edges, testing the responses from things like cutting cables and otherwise interfering with the infrastructure. This is what "probing" means for me. "Beyond probing" would be actually launching attacks one way or another, which we haven't seen yet (except of course, for the Ukraine invasion).

replies(3): >>42194976 #>>42195928 #>>42196047 #
2. fsckboy ◴[20 Nov 24 15:48 UTC] No.42194976[source]▶
>"Beyond probing" would be actually launching attacks one way or another, which we haven't seen yet

he's saying "this was not a probe, this was an actually launched attack"

3. euroderf ◴[20 Nov 24 17:02 UTC] No.42195928[source]▶
A next step for them might be to disable/poison something like an entire urban water distribution system. But come to think of it, the US et al. might be able to do the same back to Russia. Because, you see, there is a whole 'nother ladder of escalation to explore.

A submarine cable is an attractive target for Russia because Russia doesn't have cables of their own exposed: Russia is a continental power, not a maritime alliance. A cable attack is an asymmetric attack, difficult to respond to appropriately.

replies(1): >>42197029 #
4. onlypassingthru ◴[20 Nov 24 17:12 UTC] No.42196047[source]▶
> actually launching attacks one way or another, which we haven't seen yet

On the contrary. The attacks have been ongoing for years now. You're looking for the tanks and missiles when the attack is actually happening right under your feet. Rot and corruption are more powerful than any bullets or missiles.

replies(1): >>42197650 #
5. mongol ◴[20 Nov 24 18:57 UTC] No.42197029[source]▶
I recently saw a cable from St Petersburg to Kaliningrad at one of these maps.
replies(1): >>42197656 #
6. lifestyleguru ◴[20 Nov 24 20:11 UTC] No.42197650[source]▶
> Rot and corruption are more powerful than any bullets or missiles.

The developed world knows this even better. Offering yachts, real estate, supercars, prostitutes, and other luxuries to oligarchs. Thanks to this their military is rather in shambles right now.

replies(2): >>42198514 #>>42198521 #
7. jajko ◴[20 Nov 24 20:12 UTC] No.42197656{3}[source]▶
It would be a shame if somebody dragged a massive ship anchor over it by accident. Through potato field.
replies(1): >>42198863 #
8. Terr_ ◴[20 Nov 24 21:54 UTC] No.42198514{3}[source]▶
... Wow, this must be peak Kremlin shilling: Blaming other countries for Russia's decades of kleptocratic leadership and endemic corruption at all levels.

It's historically, financially, and strategically incoherent. Trying to bribe people who are already rich with hard-to-hide things, just to make them extra-corrupt in the vague hope that it somehow results in pilfered AK-47s being sold on the black market?

Sorry, but no: Being shaken down by Russian traffic cops for bribes every week is a domestic problem.

9. onlypassingthru ◴[20 Nov 24 21:55 UTC] No.42198521{3}[source]▶
Does it? You think Russia can't corrupt a German Chancellor or a US President? Boy have I got news for you!
10. Terr_ ◴[20 Nov 24 22:37 UTC] No.42198863{4}[source]▶
Again? [0]

> The 1,000 kilometre (620 miles) Baltika cable belonging to state-owned Rostelecom runs from the region of St. Petersburg to the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad on the southern Baltic Sea.

> A gas pipeline linking Finland and Estonia and two other telecoms cables, connecting Estonia to Finland and Sweden, were also damaged last month. Finnish police believe damage to the Baltic connector gas pipeline was caused by a Chinese container ship dragging its anchor along the seabed but have not concluded whether this was an accident or a deliberate act.

> The Finnish coast guard said the Russian outage may be linked to the previously reported damage.

[0] https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/finland-says-russian-ba...