Internet and Energy at Risk: Russia Tracks Cables Near Britain

Last November, the Russian vessel Yantar set sail from the Kola Peninsula on a three-month mission. Disguised as a civilian ship, it traveled past Norway, through the English Channel and Irish Sea, before moving south toward the Mediterranean and Suez.  This was not a research trip but a mission to map and potentially intercept undersea cables vital for Europe’s internet, energy, military communications, and financial transactions.

According to the Financial Times

The FT investigation, which included input from NATO officers, analysts, and ESA satellite data, found that Yantar deliberately stopped near strategic cables between Norway and the Svalbard archipelago, as well as over critical lines in the Irish Sea. These maneuvers alarmed Western defense officials, who fear the operations resemble preparations for sabotage.

Experts warn that Russia could weaponize undersea cable mapping to pressure or destabilize the West. The threat goes beyond energy or internet disruption—it raises concerns about potential military scenarios designed to cripple Europe’s critical infrastructure.