2024-11-20

THE HAGUE - Since the war in Ukraine, dozens of Russian ‘research vessels’ have been making suspicious movements near critical infrastructure in the North Sea and the Baltic Sea. This has been revealed by research conducted by VRT NWS in collaboration with media outlets in the Netherlands, Germany and Scandinavia.

The Ministry of Defence of the Netherlands is considering hiring private companies to guard the North Sea because the navy and coastguard do not have enough equipment and personnel. The decision follows research findings on Russian spying activities in the region among others investigated by Pointer KRO-NCRV and VRT NWS in cooperation with six other countries.

Defence is seeking temporary patrol capacity until new ships are available. This is the first time military tasks have been outsourced to private parties in peacetime. There are concerns about powers and responsibilities, especially the use of force by hired personnel. Defence is examining whether armed patrols are necessary, but there is support for unarmed patrols with maritime drones as an alternative.

The investigation into ‘Russian Spy Ships’ was done with following partners:

VRT NWS (Belgium), KRO-NCRV (Netherlands), NDR-WDR and Süddeutsche Zeitung (Germany), NRK (Norway), ERR (Estonia). These media also helped gather data: DR (Denmark), Yle (Finland); SVT (Sweden), BBC (UK), Marineschepen.nl, Vake.ai, Marinetraffic.com and Dossier Centre

Image: Patrol vessel Pollux
Source: Gerd Fahrenhorst, via Wikimedia Commons

Coco Gubbels

Coco Gubbels (The Netherlands) is a freelance project manager in investigative journalism.
Coco Gubbels
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Luc Van Bakel

Luc Van Bakel is a Belgian editor-in-chief and coordinator at VRT NWS.
Luc Van Bakel
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Joris Heijkant

Joris Heijkant is a freelance datajournalist from the Netherlands.
Joris Heijkant
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Peter Keizer

Peter Keizer is a Dutch investigative journalist and data researcher at Pointer.
Peter Keizer
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€5,252 allocated on 20/09/2024
ID
LOCAL/2024/032
Grant
FPD Low Countries
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Spionnen op de Noordzee, Pointer — KRO NCRV

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  • Russische Spionageschepen, Pointer KRO-NCRV
  • Russische Spionageschepen, VRT NWS
  • Russische Spionageschiffe in der Ostsee: "Teil der hybriden Angriffe", NDR
  • Ohne Ortungssignal und getarnt als Forschungsschiffe kreuzt eine russische Geheimflotte durch die Ostsee, Süddeutsche Zeitung
  • Skyggekrigen, NRK
  • What are Russian research vessels doing in the Baltic Sea?, ERR
  • Afsløring: Russiske spionskibe forbereder mulig sabotage mod havvindmøller, gasrør og strømkabler i Danmark og Norden, DR
  • Skyggekrigen: De russiske spionskibe, DR
  • Niinistö: Russian surveillance activities in Nordic maritime areas raise tensions, Yle
  • Venäläiset vakoilualukset, Yle
  • Avslöjar: Ryska ”spökskepp” vid Nord Stream – fram till fem dagar före sabotaget, SVT 
  • Ukraine war: The Russian ships accused of North Sea sabotage, BBC

COUNTRIES

  • Belgium
  • Netherlands
  • Germany
  • Denmark
  • Estonia
  • Finland
  • Norway
  • Sweden
  • United-Kingdom
  • Russia