US raises alarm over increased Russian military activity near undersea cables.

According to information published by CNN on September 18, 2024, the United States has reported a rise in Russian military operations around key undersea cables, heightening fears of potential sabotage against critical global communication infrastructure.
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Nord Stream gas leak in the Baltic Sea. (Picture source: Danish MoD)

According to U.S. officials, the secretive Russian military unit is believed to be focusing its efforts on disrupting undersea internet cables, raising alarms about the security of vital communications networks. This revelation underscores growing concerns about Russia’s ability to target global infrastructure.

The unit in question, known by its Russian acronym GUGI (General Staff Main Directorate for Deep Sea Research), is reportedly enhancing its capabilities for undersea sabotage. U.S. intelligence highlights that GUGI deploys various vessels, submarines, and marine drones in its operations. The specialized deepwater submarines under GUGI's command are capable of reaching depths of 2,500 meters, and the Russian research vessel Yantar—spotted near sensitive cables off the coast of the U.K. in 2019—has been linked to this effort.

The Kremlin appears to be placing significant emphasis on the activities of GUGI, with the unit continuing to receive robust financial backing. U.S. officials have pointed to recent statements by Dmitri Medvedev, deputy chairman of Russia’s Security Council, who in June hinted that Russia could target undersea communication networks if provoked. Further concerns were raised by reports of Russian vessels regularly patrolling near critical maritime infrastructure, often far from Russia’s own coastline.

Undersea cables form the backbone of global internet and telecommunications traffic, stretching thousands of kilometers along the ocean floor, particularly between Europe and North America. Any coordinated sabotage could result in widespread economic and social disruption, especially in Europe. A well-executed attack on these cables could severely impact civilian communications, governmental operations, and military readiness. Additionally, industries reliant on these networks, such as the financial and energy sectors, would face significant challenges.

Western nations, already focused on securing vital infrastructure as they develop green energy initiatives in the North Sea, are increasingly concerned about the vulnerability of these undersea assets. Around 95 percent of global internet traffic travels through these cables, which operate at speeds of approximately 200 terabytes per second. Of the 400 undersea cables, NATO considers 200 as critical infrastructure. These cables facilitate an estimated $10 trillion in financial transactions daily, highlighting their economic significance. David Cattler, former head of NATO intelligence, previously noted Russia’s increased activity in mapping out critical allied infrastructure, both on land and at sea.

The threat posed by Russia’s focus on undersea cables has not gone unnoticed. NATO sources have confirmed a growing concern over Moscow’s intentions. Data released in June revealed that over the past decade, more than 160 non-military Russian ships have carried out 945 suspicious activities near key infrastructure in the North Sea. Of these incidents, 749 occurred within a one-kilometer radius of essential pipelines. Repairing any damage to such pipelines is both costly and time-consuming. Additionally, 72 suspicious movements involved power cables, and 124 were near telecommunications cables.