Norwegian and Seven EU Countries' Intelligence Warn of Possible Russian Sabotage on Energy Infrastructure

The security services of seven European countries have warned of the threat of Russian sabotage at energy facilities in Norway, which is now Europe's largest supplier of natural gas.

Reuters reported this with reference to statements by representatives of these countries. At a closed meeting organised by the Norwegian counterintelligence service PST, representatives of Norway, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, Finland, Sweden and Iceland discussed the risks of espionage and sabotage by Russia. 

The meeting focused on Norway's role as a key energy supplier to Europe.

‘We see a story developing that concerns not only Germany or our Norwegian colleagues, but all of us. This is a threat that comes from some countries, such as Russia, including not only espionage operations, but also the risk of sabotage in some industries,’ said Vice President of the German Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution, Sönan Söhne.

The head of Norwegian counter-intelligence, Beate Gangaas, stressed that Russia is a key threat to Norway's energy sector.

‘When we talk about sabotage today, we are talking about Russia,’ she said.

Since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Norway, a NATO member state that shares a border with Russia in the Arctic, has become Europe's largest supplier of natural gas, delivered through a vast system of undersea pipelines.

In the spring, the Norwegian security service claimed that Russian intelligence agents were working in western Norway to prepare sabotage against critical infrastructure.