Russia's underwater threat: Internet and energy at risk
Telecommunications giants are warning that Russia could cause "global internet outages" by sabotaging underwater cables. According to the "Daily Mail," NATO commanders and security experts, among others, fear such actions.
Huge telecommunications companies like Vodafone, Telefónica, and Orange warn that the network of over 500 underwater cables, which transmit 95% of the world's data, is vulnerable to Russia's activities. These companies have appealed to the EU, UK, and NATO to recognize cables as critical infrastructure and to increase intelligence cooperation.
An open letter addressed to the EU, NATO, and the UK emphasized that harm to undersea cables would have global repercussions, impacting not only Europe but also the worldwide internet and energy systems, international communications, financial operations, and critical services. The letter stressed that safeguarding these cables should be a cornerstone of broader efforts to protect infrastructure, arguing that taking action now is essential to securing the networks that support our collective future.
Russia attacks underwater infrastructure. "A war is ongoing"
The "Daily Mail" recalls that since 2023, there have been at least 11 cases of cable damage in the Baltic Sea region, as well as similar incidents in the North Sea. The main suspect is the "shadow fleet" – Russian ships disguised as civilian or research vessels, such as the vessel Yantar, which recently made headlines when it was caught mapping British infrastructure. Also implicated are luxury yachts of Russian oligarchs equipped with specialized equipment that could enable cable sabotage from the depths.
The UK and NATO are taking steps – in January, a fleet of 10 ships was sent to the Baltic, and the London government included the protection of underwater infrastructure in the latest strategic review. Finland and Sweden are also investigating cases of cable damage (e.g., C-Lion1, Estlink 2), which may have resulted from sabotage.
Former Defense Minister Tobias Ellwood warned that the UK "lags behind" in monitoring Russia's deep-sea operations. He called for a significant expansion of the UK's maritime surveillance capabilities following reports of Russian spy equipment intercepted in national waters. "We must realize that there is a gap between our resilience and the threat we face," he said.
A senior military commander, cited by the Daily Mail, described the situation in the Atlantic as an undeniable state of war — a prolonged game of cat and mouse that has persisted since the Cold War era and is now intensifying, with an extraordinary surge in Russian operations.
Russia's targets listed
According to the British newspaper, among the most important and potentially threatened underwater pipelines is the 1,127-kilometre Langeled gas pipeline from Norway, which supplies 20% of the UK's gas.
Another target could be the Viking Link – an underwater cable from the UK to Denmark with a capacity of 1.4 GW, which is the longest underwater energy interconnector in the world.
Experts warn that Russia's actions are inexpensive, difficult to detect, and can paralyze national energy and communication systems. They advise citizens to prepare emergency kits for potential power and internet outages. As we recently wrote, security experts suggested that UK residents should be prepared for at least three days of survival.
The recommended survival kit includes water, long-lasting food, medicines, a battery-powered radio, flashlight, identification documents, and a pocket knife.
