As tensions rise over Russian activity in European waters, the UK is stepping up to take charge of an ambitious operation designed to protect vital undersea infrastructure. The operation, called Nordic Warden, will focus on tracking the movements of Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet” , a group of vessels suspected of causing damage to undersea cables, including a power cable between Finland and Estonia, which was reportedly sabotaged on Christmas Day. The UK will lead this initiative alongside NATO and European allies, ensuring any potential threats are swiftly identified and acted upon.
Defence Secretary John Healey made this announcement in the House of Commons on January 6, describing the system as a cutting-edge response to the growing threat posed by Russia to critical infrastructure beneath the waves. “Russian aggression is not simply confined to Ukraine,” Healey said, referring to the Christmas Day incident. “We are deeply concerned about the damage and sabotage to undersea cables.” He went on to confirm that the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) had activated Nordic Warden for the first time, with the goal of monitoring Russian warships and shadow vessels that might pose a risk to undersea cables and other vital infrastructure. The system will monitor ships in real-time and provide immediate alerts to JEF members and NATO allies when a potential risk is detected.
But how exactly will this work? The system uses artificial intelligence to assess data from a wide range of sources. This includes the Automatic Identification System (AIS), which ships use to broadcast their location. Specific Russian vessels, which have been linked to the shadow fleet, will be closely monitored as they approach key areas of interest. These areas span from the English Channel and the North Sea to the Baltic Sea and beyond. With the growing reliance on undersea cables for global communication and energy transmission, the stakes couldn’t be higher.
The UK’s Royal Navy has been actively monitoring Russian vessels for some time now. On Christmas Day, sailors were called into action to track a task force making its way through British waters. The HMS Somerset shadowed the Russian corvette RFS Soobrazitelny along with two support vessels as they navigated the Channel and North Sea. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has now confirmed that specific vessels, including those identified as part of Russia’s shadow fleet, will be closely watched through the Nordic Warden system.
Conversations around this growing threat are ongoing in Parliament, with Labour MP Harpreet Uppal asking what steps the UK is taking to undermine the shadow fleet. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer responded by emphasising the importance of national security and critical infrastructure. “Growth and national security are vital to our Plan for Change,” he said, expressing his satisfaction that Nordic Warden would soon be operational in securing Europe’s undersea cables.
Despite the ongoing investigation into the Christmas Day incident, many analysts suspect that a vessel named Eagle S may have been responsible for the damage to the Finnish-Estonian cable. Mr Healey has confirmed that Nordic Warden will closely monitor areas where British interconnectors and other undersea cables are located, reinforcing the UK’s commitment to safeguarding its interests in these uncertain times.
