No one needs to be convinced of the important role that undersea cables play. They are a vital backbone of Internet and telecommunications traffic around the world, and any attack on the high-speed fiber-optic network could significantly disrupt private, government and military communications. In this context, the words of the Americans who reported having detected increased Russian military activity near this infrastructure are disturbing.
The CNN website reported that The United States has detected increased Russian military activity near key undersea cables and believe that Russia may be more willing to conduct sabotage operations aimed at disrupting global communications infrastructure.
According to one of the US officials interviewed by CNN journalists, Russia is expanding its military unit known as GUGI, deploying submarines, surface ships and naval drones.
We are concerned about increased Russian naval activity around the world and the possibility that Russia’s calculus on damage to critical U.S. and allied underwater infrastructure may change. – said the person in charge to the American portal. Russia continues to develop underwater sabotage capabilities – he added.
The United States regularly monitors Russian vessels patrolling areas of critical maritime infrastructure and undersea cables, often far from the Russian coast. – said the employee.
Submarine cables form a fundamental backbone of Internet and telecommunications traffic around the world. Most Internet communications and traffic travels through a vast network of high-speed fiber optic cables laid along the ocean floor.
CNN emphasizes that for this reason a coordinated attack could significantly disrupt private, government and military communications using these cables, too operation of industries for which it is crucial, such as financial markets. Submarine cables also transmit huge amounts of electricity between different European countries.
The US and its allies are closely monitoring Russian maritime activity in the area of major undersea cables. In April last year, the commander of a NATO patrol vessel told CNN that he had been observing it for the past few years. increased Russian activity in the area of submarine cables in the Baltic Sea.
Last year, a joint investigation by the public broadcasters of Sweden, Denmark, Norway and Finland concluded that Russia has a fleet of suspected spy ships operating in northern European waters in order to potentially sabotage both undersea cables and wind farms. Using data analysis, intercepted radio messages and intelligence sources, the broadcasters tracked approximately 50 vessels operating in the area over several years, using underwater surveillance to map potential attack locations. Taiwanese and US forces have observed similar Chinese naval activity in the waters around Taiwan.
Russia’s dangerous activities have not been interrupted by the ongoing war with Ukraine. The Russian leadership attaches great importance to the GUGI – a US official told CNN, noting that despite the war in Ukraine, the unit’s funding was not abandoned. A US official told CNN that The United States will treat any sabotage of underwater infrastructure as a significant escalation of Russian aggression outside Ukraine..
Any action that could damage seabed infrastructure, including submarine cables, especially during periods of high tensions, carries the risk of misunderstandings and misperceptions that could lead to unintended escalation. – noted an employee who wished to remain anonymous.
The United States would be particularly concerned about damage to our critical undersea infrastructure or that of our allies. – he added.
