Experts Scrutinize "Accident" Explanation for Baltic Cable Damage

Over the past week, U.S. and Finnish intelligence officials have told media that there is no evidence that Russia was behind the cutting of five subsea cables in the Gulf of Finland on Christmas Day, and that the tanker that caused the damage likely dragged anchor for 50 miles by accident. But the “accident” claim is drawing pushback in Finland and Sweden, which were affected most by recent suspected subsea sabotage. 

The incident on Dec. 25-26 was the third time in a year that a Russia-linked ship has been accused of severing multiple subsea cables by dragging an anchor under power for unusual distances. This time, NATO has assembled a large naval task …