NATO wants to focus more on protecting underwater infrastructure.
(Photo: Polaris/laif)
Brussels The “Admiral Vladimirsky” has been sailing the seas since Soviet times. The white-painted barge trades as a research ship, it should offer space for 80 scientists. However, the crew seems less interested in researching marine habitats or observing weather phenomena than in locating and mapping European energy networks.
Last year, the “Admiral Vladimirsky” headed for wind farms off the British coast, as a research team from Northern European media showed a few days ago. Western secret services have long been convinced that the “Admiral Vladimirsky” is part of a shadow fleet of the Russian Navy that is supposed to scout out Europe’s critical underwater infrastructure – possibly to prepare acts of sabotage.
The heads of government and energy ministers of the North Sea countries want to deal with this concern when they meet on Monday for a summit in Ostend, Belgium. Chancellor Olaf Scholz and his deputy Robert Habeck have announced their presence. Head of the EU Commission Ursula von der Leyen and Energy Commissioner Kadri Simson are traveling from Brussels.
Read on now
Get access to this and every other article in the
Web and in our app free of charge for 4 weeks.
Further
Read on now
Get access to this and every other article in the
web and in our app.
Further