Media: Russian spy ships in the North Sea are preparing to sabotage power plants and cables

Russia is reportedly using a fleet of vessels disguised as fishing and research ships to plan acts of sabotage against wind farms, gas pipelines and communications cables in the North Sea. The claim is based on a joint investigation by public broadcasters in Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Finland, reported BBC News today.

The vessels, which appear to be fishing boats or research ships, are equipped with underwater surveillance equipment and map key areas that could be targeted. According to sources at Danish broadcaster DR, the aim is to plan acts of sabotage against the Nordic countries, including by cutting power and data cables across the Atlantic and to the rest of Europe.

The broadcasters say they analysed intercepted Russian naval communications that confirm the existence of so-called „ghost ships“. These vessels sail with their transmitters switched off and do not share their location. One of them is reportedly the vessel Admiral Vladimirsky, officially on an oceanographic expedition. According to the Nordic countries, it is in fact a Russian spy ship, and DR has also published footage of the vessel, including shots of armed men in disguise on board.