Conversation

'... there is increasing confidence among their governments that the incidents were accidental and not directed by the Kremlin. [Leaks.]

'... no spike in the number of cable faults proportional to an increase in maritime traffic in the region [due to sanctions on Russia]. [Leaks.]

'... they had been briefed that sometimes incompetent ship-masters simply don’t want to go through the bother of arguing with the crew to trek out to the bow of the vessel in inclement weather to hoist the anchor. [Leaks. Really?]

'These anchors are not designed to simply “hold fast on the seabed,” explained the ICPC, which notes that in rough weather the vessel will move with the anchor ... seven egregious examples including one in 2008 when a ship dragged its anchor for around 180 miles, damaging six submarine cables'.
https://therecord.media/european-officials-baltic-sea-cable-breaks-accidental