The US has detected heightened Russian military activity around critical undersea cables and believes that Russia may be more likely to carry out sabotage operations targeting this vital global communications infrastructure, according to two US officials who spoke to CNN.
Russia has been bolstering a specialized military unit known as the General Staff Main Directorate for Deep Sea Research, or GUGI, which deploys a fleet of surface ships, submarines, and naval drones, one official said.
“We are concerned about heightened Russian naval activity worldwide and that Russia’s decision calculus for damaging US and allied undersea critical infrastructure may be changing,” a US official told CNN. “Russia is continuing to develop naval capabilities for undersea sabotage mainly through GUGI, a closely guarded unit.”
The US has been monitoring Russian ships that patrol near undersea cables, often far from Russian territory. This clandestine Russian activity has not been previously reported. CNN has sought comment from the Russian Ministry of Defense.
Undersea cables are essential for the transmission of global internet and telecommunications traffic, as most communications travel through fiber-optic cables laid on the ocean floor. A coordinated attack on these cables could disrupt government, military, and private communications, as well as financial markets and energy supplies. In Europe, some undersea cables also carry electricity between nations.
The US and its allies have been closely tracking Russian naval movements around these cables. In April 2023, NATO commanders told CNN they had observed increased Russian activity near undersea cables in the Baltic Sea in recent years.
Northern European waters have become a hotspot for Russian surveillance. Last year, a joint investigation by the public broadcasters of Sweden, Denmark, Norway, and Finland revealed that Russia has been operating suspected spy ships in these waters, mapping undersea cables and wind farms for potential sabotage.
Through data analysis, intercepted radio communications, and intelligence sources, the broadcasters monitored around fifty ships operating in the area over several years, employing underwater surveillance to map locations for possible attacks.
Russia’s undersea activities have persisted despite the ongoing war in Ukraine. The Kremlin continues to fund GUGI, reflecting its strategic importance, a US official said.
The US views any sabotage of undersea infrastructure as a serious escalation. “Any activities that damage seabed infrastructure, including undersea cables, especially during periods of heightened tensions, risk misunderstandings that could lead to unintended escalation,” a US official told CNN. The US would be particularly concerned if such damage affected American or allied undersea infrastructure.
