Russia's submarine threat could cause a global internet blackout
Telecommunications giants are warning that Russia could cause "global internet outages" by sabotaging underwater cables. According to the "Daily Mail," NATO commanders and security experts, among others, are concerned about such actions.
Large telecommunications companies like Vodafone, Telefonica, and Orange warn that the network of over 500 underwater cables, which transmit 95% of the world's data, is vulnerable to Russia's actions. These companies have appealed to the EU, UK, and NATO to recognize these cables as critical infrastructure and to increase intelligence cooperation.
An open letter addressed to the EU, NATO, and the UK stressed that damage to underwater cables would have repercussions well beyond Europe, potentially disrupting global internet and energy systems, international communications, financial operations, and critical services worldwide. It underlined that safeguarding these cables should be a cornerstone of wider infrastructure protection efforts, urging immediate action to secure the networks that support our collective future.
Russia attacks underwater infrastructure. "A war is ongoing"
The "Daily Mail" reports that since 2023 there have been at least 11 cases of cable damage in the Baltic Sea region, as well as similar incidents in the North Sea. The main suspect is the "shadow fleet"—Russian ships disguised as civilian or research vessels, such as the vessel Yantar, which recently made headlines when it was caught mapping British infrastructure. Also involved are luxury yachts belonging to Russian oligarchs, equipped with specialized equipment that could enable cable sabotage from the depths.
The UK and NATO are taking steps—in January, a fleet of 10 ships was sent to the Baltic, and the UK government included the protection of underwater infrastructure in its latest strategic review. Finland and Sweden are also investigating cases of cable damage (e.g., C-Lion1, Estlink 2), which may have resulted from sabotage.
Former Defense Minister Tobias Ellwood warned that the UK "lags behind" in monitoring Russia's deep-sea operations. He called for a significant expansion of the UK's maritime surveillance capabilities after reports of Russian spy equipment intercepted in national waters. He emphasized the need to acknowledge the disparity between the level of resilience and the scale of the threat currently confronting us.
A senior military commander described the situation in the Atlantic as an undeniable conflict, likening it to a game of cat and mouse that has persisted since the Cold War and is now intensifying, with an exceptional level of Russian operations being observed, according to the Daily Mail.
Russia's targets listed
According to the British newspaper, among the most important and potentially threatened underwater pipelines is the 700-mile Langeled gas pipeline from Norway, which supplies one-fifth of the UK's gas.
Another potential target could be the Viking Link—an underwater cable from the UK to Denmark with a capacity of 1.4 GW, which is the longest underwater energy interconnector in the world.
Experts warn that Russia's actions are inexpensive, difficult to detect, and can paralyze national energy and communication systems. They advise citizens to prepare emergency kits for potential power and internet outages. As previously reported, security experts suggested that UK residents prepare their households to be self-sufficient for at least three days.
The recommended survival kit includes: water, long-lasting food, medicines, a battery-powered radio, flashlight, identification documents, and a pocket knife.
