
Sweden is investigating a wave of suspected sabotage targeting its telecommunications infrastructure, with over 30 cell towers along the E22 highway found vandalized in coordinated attacks that severed cables and destroyed technical equipment.
Sabotage Pattern Emerges Along E22 Corridor
Swedish officials confirmed that approximately 30 telecom masts were attacked along the E22 corridor in Småland and Östergötland, with cables cut and electrical systems damaged without any theft of hardware—signaling sabotage over vandalism. As reported by Newsweek, the incidents occurred during and shortly after the Easter weekend and were noted for their technical precision and geographic clustering.
The incidents follow a sharp spike in infrastructure tampering. Data Center Dynamics reported that 50 telecom infrastructure attacks have occurred across Sweden in the first half of 2025—more than triple the rate from the same period last year. Roger Gustafsson, head of security at the Swedish Post and Telecom Authority (PTS), warned this reflects a rising threat to national resilience.
NATO Weighs In Amid Rising Baltic Tensions
Sweden’s Defense Minister Ulf Kristersson cautioned that these acts cannot be divorced from wider regional instability. According to The Times, Swedish officials suspect a pattern that aligns with hybrid warfare operations—blending cyber, disinformation, and infrastructure sabotage.
The sabotage also mirrors tactics used in recent undersea cable disruptions. Over the last 15 months, NATO has identified at least 11 damaged subsea internet and power cables in the Baltic region. In response, it launched “Operation Baltic Sentry” to enhance underwater surveillance and deter interference, as reported by AP News and Reuters.
Hybrid Warfare Threat Expands
Detective Superintendent Håkan Wessung, leading the Swedish investigation, said authorities are not ruling out a coordinated foreign campaign. The attacks’ consistency and lack of monetary motive have led experts to link them to possible state-sponsored reconnaissance efforts, testing Sweden’s civil infrastructure integrity.
As Economic Times reported, the E22 corridor cuts through critical military and commercial zones, raising speculation the attackers may be probing readiness and response timelines. Teracom, Sweden’s state-owned network provider, stated the methods used to disable systems reflected “deep familiarity” with telecom architecture—far beyond random vandalism.
The sabotage wave has prompted fresh NATO alerts. Secretary-General Mark Rutte warned that acts like these, combined with recent deep-sea cable sabotage, reflect a new phase of hybrid threats targeting Europe’s infrastructure spine. As NATO scrambles to coordinate countermeasures, Sweden may now be the testing ground for a broader escalation in Europe’s infrastructure shadow war.