A new documentary titled "The Shadow War" has alleged that Russian military and civilian "ghost ships" are currently sailing in Nordic waters, mapping critical infrastructure on the seabed. The series, produced by DR in collaboration with NRK in Norway, SVT in Sweden, and Yle in Finland, claims that the Kremlin fleet has been targeting offshore wind farms, gas pipelines, power, and internet cables in the waters around Denmark, Norway, Finland, and Sweden.
According to intercepted radio communications from the Russian navy, the presence of Russian "ghost ships" sailing in Nordic waters with their AIS transmitters turned off has been revealed. One such vessel is the Russian naval ship "Admiral Vladimirsky," which officially conducts marine research but is also believed to be involved in intelligence work.
Mission to Gather Information on Offshore Wind Farms
The Admiral Vladimirsky was tracked last November, passing by current and future offshore wind farms where it stayed for several days without sharing its location but continuously sending radio messages to a naval base in Russia containing its positions. Jens Wenzel Kristoffersen, a naval captain and military analyst from the University of Copenhagen, believes that the ship has been on a mission to gather information on changes and vulnerabilities of offshore wind farms in case of future attacks.
Counterintelligence chief Anders Henriksen from the Danish Police Intelligence Service (PET) warns that, in case of a conflict with the West, Russia may be able to paralyze Danish society by cutting power and data cables across the Atlantic and to the rest of Europe.
Strategic Capacity Controlled Directly from Moscow
The military program is said to be a strategic capacity for Russia, controlled directly from Moscow, according to Nils Andreas Stensønes, head of the Norwegian Intelligence Service. The documentary series has also identified over 50 Russian ships with suspicious sailing patterns in Nordic waters over the past ten years, raising concerns about potential missions involving laying sea mines, mapping pipelines, communication cables, and other targets for sabotage.
Preparing for Conflict with the West
Experts warn that this activity is part of Russia's preparations for a major conflict with the West and poses a significant security risk to the Nordic countries and Europe. Further investigations and efforts to enhance the security and protection of critical infrastructure in the Nordic waters and beyond may be necessary to mitigate potential risks and safeguard national and regional security interests.
The alleged presence of Russian "ghost ships" in Nordic waters mapping critical infrastructure on the seabed raises concerns of potential sabotage. The documentary has revealed the existence of these ships and their suspicious sailing patterns, highlighting the risks they pose to national and regional security interests. Experts suggest that further investigations and efforts to enhance security and protection of critical infrastructure in the Nordic waters and beyond may be necessary to mitigate potential risks.
