On September 10, new details emerged regarding a Russian underwater operation near Svalbard. British, Norwegian, and US forces had been tracking the activity since the spring of 2026. Russian GUGI special-mission submarines were simulating the sabotage of undersea cables using a technique that had not previously been publicly described. However, NATO forces intercepted the units at sea and prevented the exercise from being completed; consequently, no damage occurred. In a real-world scenario, two critical fiber-optic cables connecting Svalbard to the Norwegian mainland would have been at risk.
Training for undersea cable sabotage using Russian special-purpose submarines
During the operation, Russia deployed two special-purpose submarines belonging to GUGI (the Main Directorate of Deep-Sea Research). A Russian Akula-class attack submarine was also operating in the North Atlantic; however, the UK assessed its presence as a diversion from the activities of the special-purpose vessels. Consequently, British forces, together with their allies, monitored the Russian group around the clock.
Representative image: AI-generated
Norway deployed a P-8 anti-submarine aircraft and a frigate to the operational area. Great Britain also deployed ships and P-8 reconnaissance aircraft. In total, British aircraft flew more than 450 hours, and around 500 military personnel took part. While the undersea cable sabotage scenario remained a simulation, Norway reports that GUGI is developing capabilities to map and potentially destroy Western deep-sea infrastructure.
Svalbard relies on two fiber-optic cables connecting it to Norway
The two cables linking Svalbard to the mainland run for approximately 1,400 kilometers across the Norwegian Sea. In some sections, however, they lie at depths of up to 2,700 meters. Space Norway therefore classifies the connection as critical infrastructure for the archipelago. It carries communications for government agencies, research, health services, and aviation, among other sectors.
The link is also crucial for the SvalSat satellite station near Longyearbyen, which receives vast amounts of data from satellites in polar orbits. NASA also integrates the Svalbard station into its Near Space Network. Consequently, a prolonged outage could have repercussions extending far beyond local internet connectivity.
NATO Expands Underwater Surveillance in the High North
Norway is already having a new fiber-optic link to Svalbard and Jan Mayen constructed. The project costs approximately 2.8 billion Norwegian kroner and is scheduled to be operational by 2028, at which point the existing connection will reach the end of its estimated technical lifespan. Consequently, the new route is intended to simultaneously enhance the resilience of this strategically important region.
At the same time, NATO is bolstering its military presence in the Arctic. In late August, British, Norwegian, and American forces conducted training exercises on Jan Mayen as part of “Arctic Sentry,” testing sensors, communications, and joint operations under Arctic conditions. Furthermore, through Task Force X-Arctic, NATO is establishing networked unmanned systems for large-scale surveillance of the North Atlantic.
The Russian exercise thus highlights a specific vulnerability in European communications infrastructure. While no actual sabotage of undersea cables occurred near Svalbard—and the lines remained intact—Western sources indicate that specialized Russian units have trained specifically for such a scenario. NATO is therefore now systematically extending its protection of critical undersea infrastructure to the High North as well.
Author: Blackout News
Sources: UK Foreign Office (11.09.26) – Reuters (10.09.26)