Norway braces for Russian sabotage on critical infrastructure
Norwegian special services warn of inevitable sabotage from Russia. Not only is telecommunications infrastructure at risk, but also other key systems and state institutions.
According to Beate Gangaas, head of Norway's internal security service, acts of sabotage by Russia are most likely to target not only pipelines, power distribution networks, underwater energy or telecommunications cables, but also banks and electronic payment operators. She presented these conclusions during the Arctic Frontiers conference in Tromsø.
Russian intelligence activities
According to Gangaas, Russia is focusing its intelligence activities in northern Norway, particularly on critical infrastructure and NATO military exercises. Drones are often used for these purposes. The methods employed by entities associated with the Kremlin are unfamiliar to Norwegian services.
Arne Christian Haugstøyl, head of Norwegian counterintelligence, emphasized that the question is not whether sabotage will occur, but when it will happen.
Haugstøyl noted that there are grounds to believe that an entity planning an act of sabotage against Norway will succeed, because Russians hey have the potential to do so. They have been mapping Norwegians for years, the head of counterintelligence noted.
Norwegian society, after 80 years of peace, is not fully prepared for such threats. For many actions preparing for possible attacks - as the head of counterintelligence noted - it is now too late.
Since 2022, Norway has deported several individuals for espionage activities, including GRU Colonel Mikhail Mikushin, who returned to Russia in 2024 as part of a spy exchange.
