MOSCOW, November 20. /TASS/. Ukraine’s subversive activities are posing a threat to countries in the Baltic region, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, dismissing accusations against Russia as unfounded and ridiculous.

"Making continued accusations against Russia, without any substantiation, is quite absurd," Peskov said, commenting on the apparent sabotage of two undersea cables in the Baltic Sea. Such accusations are ridiculous, especially given the lack of any reaction to Ukrainian sabotage there, the Russian presidential spokesman added. "For it is Ukraine that prefers to conduct sabotage and terrorist operations in the Baltic Sea," he said, referring to the attacks on the Nord Stream gas pipelines.

Two underwater cables were damaged in the Baltic Sea on November 17 and 18. One, running along the Nord Stream natural gas pipeline, connected Germany and Finland, while the other connected Sweden and Lithuania. The German and Finnish foreign ministries, in a joint statement, expressed concern over the incident and confirmed that a thorough investigation was underway.

Sweden is investigating the role that a Chinese vessel, Yi Peng 3, might have played in both incidents, the Financial Times reported, citing sources familiar with the probe. Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman Lin Jian stated that Beijing places great importance on the security of undersea infrastructure and requires ships flying the Chinese flag to observe international maritime shipping rules. The Chinese diplomat also said he was unaware whether the Chinese ship was involved in the sabotage of the cables at the bottom of the Baltic Sea.