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Dutch wind farm in the North Sea
Photo: YVES HERMAN/ REUTERS
According to a senior Dutch intelligence official, a Russian ship has attempted to scout out wind farms in the North Sea.
"We have noticed in recent months that Russian actors are trying to understand the organization of our energy supply in the North Sea with the intention of disrupting it," said Jan Swillens, director of the Dutch military intelligence service, on Monday.
The attempt was unsuccessful.
The ship entered Dutch territorial waters and was escorted out again by the Dutch Coast Guard and Navy, Swillens told journalists.
In addition to wind turbines, Internet cables and gas lines have also become the target of potential Russian sabotage activities.
Russia is secretly mapping critical offshore infrastructure and engaging in activities "indicative of preparations for disruption and sabotage," according to a joint report by military intelligence agency MIVD and domestic and foreign intelligence agency AIVD on Monday.
Netherlands sees Russia as a threat
According to Dutch intelligence chief Erik Akerboom, the incident in the North Sea is not related to the expulsion of several Russian diplomats from the Netherlands on Saturday.
The intelligence report went on to say that regardless of the outcome of the war in Ukraine, Russia "is likely to continue to pose a long-term threat to the Netherlands."
col/AFP/Reuters
