PST warns of possible Russian sabotage in Norway

Norway’s Police Security Service is seriously concerned about the risk of Russian sabotage operations in the country, Dagbladet reports.

Atle Tangen, head of the state threats section at the security service, said recent developments in Europe had increased concern.

“Threats from Russia are not new. Russia has mapped Norwegian critical infrastructure, both physically and digitally, for a long time,” Tangen said. What has changed in recent years, he added, is Russia’s intent and willingness to take risks.

He said the security situation and the need to expand the range of available measures had increased the risk tolerance of Russian intelligence and security services.

According to PST, Russian intelligence has carried out sabotage operations in European countries either directly or through proxy actors. Tangen referred to Leipzig/Halle airport in Germany, where a drone carrying explosives was neutralised. US intelligence believes the drone may have been linked to Russia and a Russian intelligence service, according to CNN and The Wall Street Journal.

“Our fear is that something similar could happen in Norway,” Tangen said. He added that the incident formed part of a pattern that had developed in recent months.

PST considers Norway an obvious target for Russian intelligence because of its strong support for Ukraine. Norway provides financial support to Ukraine, while Norwegian arms manufacturers supply equipment to the country.

A Russian sabotage operation could create fear and uncertainty, Tangen said. Its purpose would be to cause unrest in society and put pressure on Norway’s ability and willingness to support Ukraine.

Tangen would not comment on who PST believes has mapped Norwegian infrastructure or who might be planning sabotage operations in Norway.

He said Russian intelligence services use local criminals, including young people recruited online, to carry out sabotage in NATO countries. Those recruited may not necessarily know who is behind the operation.

PST also links digital disruptions in Norway to Russian intelligence. The cyberattack against the Høyre party before the 2025 parliamentary election and the attempted sabotage of a dam in Bremanger in April 2025 have both been linked to a group of Russian hackers, which PST in turn links to Russian intelligence.

“We must not be naive. We know that Russian intelligence services are continuously planning intelligence and sabotage operations against infrastructure in NATO countries,” Tangen said.

The head of PST said the service had observed increased Russian activity in recent months. Several incidents in other European countries had made it more concerned than before, he said.