On November 15, the Chinese bulk carrier Yi Peng 3 left Ust-Luga port in Russia, which is the largest universal port in the Baltic Sea and holds significance as the Kremlin's second-largest port following Novorossiysk on the Black Sea. Following the accession of Sweden and Finland to NATO, the Baltic Sea has been labeled "NATO lake" due to its heavy presence of alliance member states.

Reports from The Wall Street Journal noted that two days into its journey, the Yi Peng 3 dropped anchor around 9 p.m. local time but continued to move with its anchor still down. This behavior is believed to have caused the vessel to accidentally sever an undersea telecommunications cable that links Sweden and Lithuania, and shortly thereafter, it also affected the only communications connection between Finland and Germany.

Investigators pointed out that the Yi Peng 3 traveled an additional 111 miles while dragging its anchor, which is considered highly unusual due to the associated risks and fuel inefficiencies. Vessels typically do not continue sailing with their anchors down for extended periods, as the crew usually raises the anchor or discards it if necessary.

Currently, the Yi Peng 3 is anchored in the Kattegat Strait and is under close observation by Danish naval forces while European authorities examine the situation for any indications of sabotage.