Latvian Navy Intercepts Russian Tug Suspected of Undersea Reconnaissance in Baltic
A Latvian military ship intercepted the Russian tugboat Nina Sokolova in the Baltic Sea, suspected of conducting reconnaissance of underwater infrastructure.
The Gaze reports on it, referring to Ukrinform, citing The Insider.
The incident occurred on November 19, 2025, when a Latvian military ship approached Nina Sokolova several times, and their routes crossed repeatedly over several hours.
Although officially designated as a rescue tugboat, the vessel has been spotted for several years near critical infrastructure in the Baltic Sea, including submarine cables and power lines.
In October 2022, the Nina Sokolova was spotted accompanied by Russian military ships — a frigate and a corvette — off the coast of Denmark. Western sources believe that the tug is likely being used to collect data on the location of underwater infrastructure, making it a potential threat to regional security and critical communications.
Previous incidents, such as the detention of the tanker Eagle S in December 2024, indicate Russia's systematic attempts to map and potentially damage important facilities.
In response to the increased activity of Russian vessels, NATO launched Operation Baltic Sentry, involving up to 10 warships, as well as aircraft and drones for surveillance. Latvia is also actively participating in this mission, using its naval and air forces.
Russia's activity in this region is not limited to individual vessels. The UK and other European countries reported that ships such as the Yantar, as well as underwater drones, are regularly observed near strategic underwater communications.
According to British Defense Minister John Healey, up to 95% of global internet traffic and financial transactions worth up to $10 trillion pass through undersea cables every day, making them extremely important for the security, defense, and economy of the West. Analysts warn that the Kremlin could use such facilities to put pressure on Europe, potentially damaging its defense, financial, logistical, and communications infrastructure.
Of particular concern is the sunken ferry Estonia that lies at a depth of about 80 meters between Estonia and Sweden. Although officially a burial site for those who died in 1994, Western sources inform that Russia uses it as a training ground for underwater operations and to place special equipment for tracking NATO ships.
According to intelligence data, the ship is equipped with devices for navigating drones and recording signals from the alliance's submarine and surface ships, which allows for accurate reconnaissance and the collection of data on the technical characteristics of the ships.
As The Gaze reported earlier, Canada warned that Russia and China are intensifying intelligence operations in the Arctic, targeting both government institutions and the private sector.