Russia will spy on submarine cables from a secret base
(Baonghean.vn) - A Russian submarine base in Olenya Bay on the Barents coast, in the north of the country, is believed to be the nerve center, from which Moscow has increased intelligence activities targeting submarine cable systems in the North Atlantic region.
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| The Barents coast near Olenya Bay. Photo: AP |
Olenya is home to a fleet of spy submarines and nuclear-powered surface ships overseen by Russia's Deepwater Research Administration, the Norway-based Independent Barents Observer reported.
NATO officials assert that submarines and other large vessels from the base have been deployed to participate in intelligence missions involving the cable system, which carries vital communications and trillions of dollars worth of trade between the United States, Europe and the rest of the world.
“There is little information about the nature of the mission, except that there has been a significant increase in activity along the submarine cables that carry global electronic communications,” the paper said. The Observer also referred to a report by Conservative MP Rishi Sunak on suspicious Russian intelligence activities.
According to the report, 200 submarine cables, which currently carry 95% of the global internet, are becoming targets for governments and terrorist groups to cut or sabotage.
Russia is also said to be expanding its fleet of special forces ships to participate in undersea operations, although NATO and other countries have not confirmed that any submarine cables have been affected by Moscow's suspected activities./.