Nikolai Patrushev, aid to Putin, has accused the U.S. and the U.K. of intending to sabotage underwater internet cables and planning to destabilize the maritime energy trade.

Citing U.S. officials, CNN reported in September that Russia was developing a sabotage unit with submarines and drones to target underwater infrastructure by order of the defense ministry’s Main Directorate for Deep- Sea Research (GUGI).

A Swedish investigation found evidence of sabotage on the pipelines between Russia and Germany. Moscow had initially accused the U.S. Probes by Sweden and Denmark were closed in February 2024 without identifying those responsible, although a German investigation is ongoing.

Media in Norway have reported concerns at the presence in the last few weeks of the Russian intelligence ship Yantar in international waters alongside its coast near critical seabed infrastructure such as oil and gas pipelines and cables for internet and telecommunications.