© Pixabay Russia is also increasingly trying to recruit Ukrainian refugees in Norway to gather intelligence or carry out sabotage.
Russia is anticipated to escalate its intelligence operations in Norway this year, with a heightened focus on the country’s Arctic region and the Svalbard islands, as stated by the Norwegian Police Security Service (PST) on Friday, February 6, which also cautioned about potential sabotage risks, according to Reuters .
Norway, a supporter of Ukraine and Europe’s foremost provider of gas via pipelines, is increasingly worried that Russian intelligence agencies might target its energy infrastructure, both through physical means and cyber intrusions.
“We foresee Russian intelligence agencies intensifying their operations in Norway in 2026, maintaining their emphasis on military objectives and joint exercises, Norwegian assistance to Ukraine, and activities in the High North and Arctic territory,” the PST’s yearly threat assessment report indicates.
“Of specific importance are the northernmost areas and Svalbard, rendering them particularly susceptible to espionage efforts and influence operations,” the assessment further mentioned.
PST indicates that the Russian Federation will probably persist in conducting surveillance along the Norwegian shoreline and charting vital infrastructure using civilian ships.
Norway, a NATO member sharing a border with Russia in the Arctic, is observing Russian military maneuvers in the North Atlantic and on the Kola Peninsula, where Russia’s Northern Fleet installation is situated.
Last August, the PST blamed hackers affiliated with Russia for a cyberattack targeting a hydroelectric facility. The Russian embassy in Oslo denounced the accusations as “groundless and politically driven.”
On Friday, PST reiterated warnings concerning such dangers.
“Russian intelligence might perceive an advantage in executing sabotage actions against targets within Norway in 2026,” the report conveys.
The most probable targets encompass installations and logistical frameworks associated with aiding Ukraine, but civilian facilities could also be at stake, the service appended.
PST communicated that Russian services are progressively endeavoring to enlist Ukrainian refugees in Norway for intelligence collection or acts of sabotage. Refugees with relatives or possessions in regions of Ukraine temporarily under Russian control are particularly vulnerable to pressure. Considering the presence of roughly one hundred thousand Ukrainian refugees in Norway, such recruitment attempts present a “significant challenge,” PST incorporated.
Since February 2022, marking the commencement of the Russian Federation’s extensive invasion of Ukraine, Poland and various other European nations have witnessed a sequence of arsons, sabotage incidents, and cyberattacks.
The AP had previously stated that Russia is attempting to exhaust Europe through a campaign of sabotage — even failed attempts at sabotage benefit Moscow by compelling European allies to assess their defenses and deplete their resources. The sheer volume of attempted harmful actions is overwhelming certain law enforcement agencies, yet Moscow’s campaign has also served to enhance collaboration among allies.