"The Need for Action Is Enormous" – Russian Espionage in the Baltic Sea

Following the Nord Stream pipeline explosions two years ago, concern over the vulnerability of critical underwater infrastructure including pipelines, data cables, and offshore wind farms has grown markedly across Europe. Despite warnings, political and security efforts to bolster protection have been insufficient. Investigations by journalists from NDR, WDR, and SZ, partnering internationally, uncovered systematic Russian surveillance since the beginning of the Ukraine war, tracking around 70 research and military ships making over 400 movements near key Baltic Sea infrastructure. Russian authorities did not respond to inquiries. German authorities struggle with protecting critical infrastructure due to complex jurisdictional challenges and limited naval capabilities, leading to a heavy burden on security forces, especially with ongoing Russian naval activity. Experts and politicians including CDU's Christoph de Vries and FDP's Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann demand a dedicated maritime security law to streamline responsibilities and enhance protections similar to aviation security laws. Germany's Interior Ministry is reportedly not advancing such legislation currently. The investigation underscores the urgent need for coordinated legal and operational responses to Russian espionage threats in the Baltic region.