Russia is increasing its underwater reconnaissance off the coast of Europe, and experts warn that it may be preparing to sabotage strategic communications.
Moscow’s Underwater Espionage
According to the Financial Times, NATO is increasingly concerned about the Russian navy’s activity near underwater cables. These lines provide Europe with internet, military communications, energy, and transactions.
In November 2024, the Russian reconnaissance vessel Yantar, equipped with specialized equipment for tracking and potentially interfering with cable networks, sailed along the coast of Norway, then through the English Channel into the Irish Sea, and finally into the Mediterranean Sea and the Suez Canal.
“The Yantar follows the routes of cables and gas pipelines, making periodic stops. We are monitoring it very closely,” admitted a senior NATO officer.
This activity is monitored by Russia’s Main Directorate for Deep-Sea Research (GUGI), which has already been placed on the UK sanctions list. According to Western intelligence, the agency is capable of conducting a full range of covert operations, including sabotage in the “gray zone”—between peace and open war.
The West’s Vulnerability
Europe is highly dependent on underwater infrastructure: 99% of Britain’s internet traffic passes through cables, and three-quarters of its gas is supplied through offshore pipelines. Of particular importance are the lines connected to the US-UK Integrated Undersea Surveillance System, which tracks enemy submarine movements.
According to experts, Moscow now has information about key network nodes where a single strike could cause widespread disruption to communications and power supplies.
Military Concerns
The Yantar vessel is equipped with deep-sea submersibles with manipulators capable of connecting to cables to intercept data or plant explosives. Former British naval attaché in Moscow, David Fields, noted: “If tensions reach a critical point, Russia could cut off power and isolate Europe at any moment, using the threat of a communications blackout as a pressure tool.”
Against the backdrop of these events, other incidents are being reported in Scandinavia. A Russian warship was recently spotted in Denmark while unknown drones were disrupting airport operations. As a result, Aalborg Airport had to be temporarily closed, and several flights were diverted.
