Financial Times: Russian navy ship Yantar maps undersea cables in Europe

Satellite data have recorded the Russian reconnaissance and sabotage vessel Yantar close to strategically important undersea cables in European waters.

A Financial Times investigation found that Yantar, masquerading as a civilian vessel, was mapping strategically important telecommunications and energy cables used by NATO countries.

According to Western military sources, the ship is capable of intercepting military and internet communications, altering signal frequencies in cables to cause disruptions, and installing explosive devices that could be triggered later.

The Financial Times reports that the information collected by the ship is part of the activities of the Main Directorate for Deep-Sea Research (GUGI) of the Russian Ministry of Defence. The directorate operates a fleet of roughly 50 submarines and deep‑sea vehicles capable of diving to depths of up to 6 km. Western analysts assess that GUGI’s mission includes preparing for a sudden attack on adversaries’ critical infrastructure.

Maps of Europe’s energy and communications infrastructure could give Moscow a serious advantage in the event of an escalation.

European Space Agency satellite imagery and testimony from NATO officers show Yantar was observed in November 2024 above cables in the Irish Sea and between mainland Norway and the Svalbard archipelago. The vessel has previously been detected by the Royal Navy near UK territorial waters.

Experts note that Russia has shown particular interest in Ireland, which is not a NATO member and is considered especially vulnerable to cyberattacks and sabotage. Yantar is equipped with submersibles fitted with manipulators capable of damaging cables or planting explosive devices for later activation. Attention is also focused on the joint US–UK undersea surveillance system that tracks hostile submarine movements.

Former British naval attaché to Russia Captain David Fields commented: “Russian military thinking places great emphasis on hitting early, hard and where it hurts to prevent escalation to a full-scale war. It has invested a lot of time, money and effort in mapping the critical national infrastructure of their enemies to attack covertly or overtly.”

By Vugar Khalilov