“Russia is probing, testing and mapping,” he said. “It seeks advantage in the grey zone, particularly around the critical undersea infrastructure on which modern societies rely.”
The revelations have emerged as US envoy Steve Witkoff returns from Russia, sparking hopes of a trilateral peace meeting between Kyiv, Moscow, and Washington to be held “no later than early November”.
The Kremlin freed retired US schoolteacher Stephen Hubbard – who had been in captivity in 2022 – as a sign of goodwill.
The EU has already sanctioned two Russian fishing companies, Norebo and Murman Seafood, for suspected espionage and surveillance.
Norebo has denied espionage or acting for Russian security services and is now challenging the sanctions, claiming the EU has no supporting evidence. Murman also denies spying or wrongdoing.
Britain has not sanctioned either company, and no law currently prevents Russian vessels from surveying cables.
