An investigation by German media has uncovered systematic Russian espionage activities in the Baltic and North Seas under the pretext of scientific research. Based on numerous pieces of evidence, journalists reveal that Russian spy ships, equipped with hydroacoustic and radar technology, are gathering data on critical infrastructure and NATO. Despite official claims of scientific exploration, their primary function is to prepare for potential sabotage. Satellite imagery and Morse code transmissions confirm these espionage activities.
Here is this investigation, which has revealed and systematized evidence of Russian aggression.
German media expose Russian espionage in the Baltic Sea
The focus of the aggressor country is on critical infrastructure and NATO. Russia is systematically collecting information about gas pipelines, data transmission cables, wind farms, and military infrastructure in the Baltic Sea. This conclusion was reached by investigative journalists as part of the international project “Russian Spy Ships,” which involved German public broadcasters NDR and WDR, as well as the newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung, according to Tagesschau.
According to their findings, Russia uses so-called “research vessels,” equipped with sensitive hydroacoustic and radar equipment, to spy on critical infrastructure. Officially, these ships conduct oceanographic research, but in reality, most of them are affiliated with the Russian Ministry of Defense or the Russian Navy, claim the authors of the investigation.
Since the start of Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine, at least 72 such ships have made over 400 voyages, according to journalists who analyzed more than a thousand Morse code transmissions from Russian ships and satellite images.
The investigation’s results show that the North and Baltic Seas have become the focus of Russia’s espionage efforts. Russian ships conducted at least 60 suspicious, extremely slow, zigzag maneuvers, mostly with the Automatic Identification System (AIS) turned off. These maneuvers were repeatedly carried out in close proximity to critical infrastructure.
According to experts, such methods are used to precisely measure objects in preparation for potential sabotage. In response to the investigators’ request, the head of the Federal Intelligence Service, Bruno Kahl, spoke of a “very concrete” threat. He stated that Russia is accelerating its pace to avoid missing opportunities for action against the West in the military sphere.
Among the possible targets of Russian espionage are the NATO submarine dive area, a wind farm near the Baltic island of Rügen, and the Balticconnector gas pipeline. Some time after suspicious actions by Russian ships, this gas pipeline between Finland and Estonia was damaged by the anchor of a Chinese ship, and the Estonian investigation reported sabotage. In the North Sea, Russian ships likely collected information about the Europipe gas pipeline from Norway to Germany, the journalists noted.
The research group managed to obtain confirmation of Russia’s activities from a former crew member of the research ship “Sibiryakov.” He stated that Russia has a strategic interest in foreign critical infrastructure, as it gains an advantage by destroying it in case of war. “Therefore, the direct function of research ships is to scan the seabed and provide this information to the military,” he explained.
In addition to German media, journalists from the Dutch media company Pointer, Belgian VRT, Estonian ERR, Norwegian NRK, and Finnish YLE also participated in the investigation.
