Offshore wind farms in the North Sea and Baltic Sea, military training areas for the Swedish Navy: These are the goals russian research vessel “Admiral Vladimirsky” driven since November. Not only has it deviated significantly from its planned course, but it also appears to have the infrastructure of Western powers on the high seas spied on.
How research the Swedish, Norwegian, Danish and Finnish state media show, the Admiral Vladimirsky had the port of in autumn 2022 according to plan Sankt Petersburg left, but never took its actual route towards the Swedish island of Gotland. Instead, the supposed research ship took course 2 naval exercise areas of the Swedish army – and passed some wind farms and undersea cables on the way.
Attack on European power supply
The research suggests that this is one of several Russian Espionage operations in the European sea area acts. Because in addition to the suspicious route, the journalists involved also managed to observe the supposed research ship at close range. A Swedish television crew captured masked and armed men on the deck of the Admiral Vladimirsky. Also Espionage instruments could be identified.
Russia denies the allegations. The russian ambassador in Norway told Norwegian TV channel NRK that all operations conducted by Russia are proceeding properly and in accordance with the international law would be coordinated.
In secret service circles, the opinion is different. The Admiral Vladimirsky launched an attack on the power supply prepared in Northwest Europe, the media involved write, citing anonymous sources. Also experts underscore this assessment.
At least 50 Russian spy ships identified
However, the Admiral Vladimirsky is not the only disguised spy ship that the Nordic media has been able to identify. According to NRK, within the past 10 years at least 50 Russian ships been involved in espionage operations in Nordic waters. The According to the BBC also confirm British authorities similar incidents in their sea space.
Many European countries are increasingly concerned about the war in Ukraine. Espionage activities by Russia have increased since the beginning of the conflict. The German protection of the constitution assumes for examplethat the number of Russian spies in the country today is as high as it was during the Cold War.
