These Russian vessels have been observed acting suspiciously near wind farms and other sensitive locations off the coasts of several European countries, including the Netherlands.
Russian ships have reportedly displayed unusual behavior in Dutch waters near offshore wind farms on multiple occasions. The vessels involved include the Akademik Karpinsky (2024), Admiral Vladimirsky (2023), and Akademik Boris Petrov (2022), which sailed through the Dutch exclusive economic zone (EEZ) at very slow speeds, in zigzag patterns, or stopped entirely.
The investigation analyzed intercepted Morse code communications and tracking data from 72 Russian research vessels linked to espionage or sabotage. These ships have made 428 voyages since the start of the war in Ukraine, with 54 of these voyages marked by suspicious behavior within the EEZs of various European countries.
In addition to the Netherlands, suspicious activity was also noted off the coasts of Denmark, Estonia, the UK, Norway, Finland, and Germany.
NATO Assistant Secretary General James Appathurai confirmed concerns about increasing threats to critical infrastructure, stating that NATO is taking measures to defend against such risks, but more preparedness is needed.
The research found that these vessels often operate near critical infrastructure, including wind farms, submarine areas, and pipelines such as the Balticconnector gas line between Estonia and Finland. While officially used for hydrographic surveys or subsea rescue operations, the vessels are reportedly also utilized for military purposes, often carrying armed personnel.
A former crew member of the Russian vessel Sibriyakov explained that the ships’ primary function is to map the seabed and gather intelligence for the military, potentially to sabotage critical infrastructure in the event of conflict.