The Netherlands military intelligence reported on suspicious activity that could be espionage or other possible disruptions on Monday.
The Russian government has been warned that the Netherlands’ marine infrastructure, including its ports and rivers, is vulnerable to sabotage.
The announcement of the warning follows an uptick in Russian naval activities in the North Sea and events in other nations of Europe, including an explosion at a German gas facility.
In order to combat the threat, the Dutch government has also called for heightened security measures and is collaborating with other European nations. In addition to accusing the Netherlands of circulating misleading information, Moscow has denied any role in sabotage actions.
🚨#BREAKING: Dutch Intelligence claims Russia is preparing to attack oil & gas pipelines, submarine cables and wind farms in the North Sea.
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) February 20, 2023
📌#Europe | #Russia
If true, this is a SERIOUS Russian escalation, possibly a response to all the weapons being sent to Ukraine by NATO pic.twitter.com/WhayjW5iHQ
Dutch intelligence agencies have warned of Russian attempts to meddle with their energy infrastructure in the North Sea and urged operators to be on the lookout.
Cybercriminals, hackers, or terrorists may target wind turbines as part of an attack on a country’s infrastructure, which might cause serious harm or possibly the shutdown of the energy system.
Wind turbine cyberattacks could disrupt the electrical infrastructure, resulting in power outages, broken equipment, and financial losses.
Physical assaults can also put the lives of workers and neighboring neighbors in peril while necessitating expensive repairs or replacements.
Governments, energy providers, and other interested parties are therefore making improvements to the security of essential infrastructure, including wind turbines.
Physical security measures like fencing and surveillance cameras are among them, as are cybersecurity measures like firewalls and encryption protocols to ward off online threats.