A joint investigation by Nordic public broadcasters has alleged that Russia is running a programme to sabotage wind farms and communication cables in the North Sea. The probe, involving Denmark's DR, Norway's NRK, Sweden's SVT and Finland's Yle, claims a fleet of vessels disguised as fishing trawlers and research ships is mapping key sites for possible disruption.
The BBC understands that UK officials are aware of Russian vessels moving around UK waters as part of this programme. The report focuses on the Admiral Vladimirsky, an officially designated Expeditionary Oceanographic Ship, which it alleges is a spy vessel. The ship was tracked near seven wind farms off the UK and Netherlands coasts, slowing down and loitering in those areas, and sailing for a month with its transmitter turned off.
When a reporter approached the ship, a masked individual brandishing what appeared to be a military assault rifle confronted him. The same vessel was spotted off the Scottish coast last November, entering the Moray Firth about 30 nautical miles east of Lossiemouth, before heading slowly west.
Dutch intelligence issued an unusual warning in February about Russian ships mapping North Sea energy infrastructure. General Jan Swillens said: 'We saw in recent months Russian actors tried to uncover how the energy system works in the North Sea. It is the first time we have seen this.'
Russian officials dismissed the allegations as baseless, with Teimuraz Ramishvili, Russia's ambassador to Norway, stating that Norwegian authorities had made a habit of accusing Russia of espionage without evidence. He insisted Russian vessels followed Norwegian rules and had the right to sail in those waters.
