Norway and NATO stopped Russian exercise targeting undersea cables

Norway and other NATO countries uncovered and stopped a Russian exercise near Svalbard in which a secret weapon for use against undersea cables was tested, Yle reports, citing Reuters and Norway’s NRK.

Two Western officials told Reuters that Russian deep-diving mini-submarines simulated deploying advanced and destructive technology on the seabed near Svalbard, which belongs to Norway.

The exercise was carried out by Russia’s Main Directorate of Underwater Warfare. Norway, the United Kingdom and the United States tracked and confronted the Russian vessels in a joint operation, according to the officials, who spoke anonymously.

The Russian vessels were prevented from completing the exercise and subsequently left the area.

Norway confirms coordinated operation

Norwegian Defence Minister Tore O. Sandvik confirmed in April that Norway had taken part in a coordinated military operation with the United Kingdom lasting several weeks. Norway contributed a surveillance aircraft and a frigate.

British Defence Secretary John Healey also told British media in April that a frigate, aircraft and hundreds of personnel had monitored a Russian attack submarine and two spy submarines near undersea cables and pipelines north of Britain.

According to the British Ministry of Defence, the vessels are based west of the Kola Peninsula.

Undersea cable damage has also been widely discussed in Finland as a court examines cable damage in the Baltic Sea from two years ago. A Russian captain and an Azerbaijani boatswain are accused in connection with that damage. The vessel involved is alleged to belong to Russia’s shadow fleet.