NATO Allegedly Plans Sabotage Operations Against Russian Maritime Infrastructure

Nikolai Patrushev, Secretary of the Russian Security Council, has accused NATO of formulating plans for sabotage operations targeting Russian infrastructure in the Baltic Sea. In an interview with National Defense magazine on March 13, 2025, Patrushev cited intelligence from experts, asserting that the alliance aims to attack underwater pipelines, tankers, and bulk carriers critical to Russia’s economic interests.

Patrushev underscored that these actions are intended to compromise Russia’s security in strategically vital waters that serve as key energy transport routes. He noted an uptick in NATO naval training, specifically aimed at enhancing the capabilities of special units for conducting subversive operations. According to him, NATO’s exercises in the Baltic Sea function not only as displays of military strength but also as rehearsals for potential attacks on Russian facilities.

While Patrushev refrained from directly implicating the United States in these alleged plans, he emphasized that the strategies align with NATO’s broader objectives. His comments come amid a heightened confrontation between Russia and Western nations, a situation that has escalated since 2022.

The context of these allegations is further complicated by recent NATO activities in the region. In January 2025, the alliance initiated Operation Baltic Sentry, which increased patrols in the Baltic Sea following several incidents involving damage to undersea cables and pipelines. According to CNN, NATO has deployed frigates, aircraft, and naval drones to safeguard critical infrastructure, attributing the threats to what it terms Russia’s “shadow fleet” — outdated tankers allegedly used to circumvent sanctions. Notably, Finnish authorities detained the Eagle S tanker in December 2024 on suspicions of damaging the Estlink 2 cable, raising concerns about maritime security.

Russian officials have consistently accused NATO of exacerbating tensions. In February, Grigory Molchanov, Deputy Secretary of the Security Council, alleged that the alliance was developing “doctrinal documents” for operations on the seabed, framing it as a new theater of conflict. Marine Insight reports that Moscow interprets NATO’s maneuvers as efforts to restrict its access to the Baltic Sea, a sentiment echoed by Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko, who has warned against NATO’s attempts to transform the Baltic into an “internal lake” for its operations.