Kathrine Frich
The danger extends beyond dry land. Underwater communication networks are also facing mysterious probes in the freezing north.
When trouble brews next door, people naturally check their locks. World leaders are doing the exact same thing on a massive scale right now. They are quietly bracing for a new kind of trespass.
A close call
Security experts across Europe are holding their breath. Officials fear vital transport hubs might become the next target for organized sabotage.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk confirmed a recent near miss. Speaking at a press conference in Bratislava on Thursday, he revealed that a serious incident almost unfolded on the border.
“Thanks to the cooperation between our services and their Ukrainian colleagues, a direct threat to one of the border crossing points was averted last night,” Tusk told reporters.
Expecting the worst
The thwarted plot followed a deadly strike further south. A Russian drone attack hit a checkpoint between Ukraine and Moldova just a day earlier.
According to the Latvian news site LA.LV, that strike killed two people and forced the temporary closure of a crucial transit route. Trade relies heavily on these points to keep goods moving.
“We expect that similar actions against border crossing points with Ukraine will be taken in other countries, especially Poland,” Tusk warned during his briefing.
He added that the United States is actively sharing intelligence to help allies stay ahead.
Reports from Washington
Tusk explained that American agencies have provided clear warnings about what might happen next.
“I have received a fairly precise report directly from the CIA about the possible developments in the coming months, which coincides with what I have been saying and warning about for months,” the Polish leader stated.
He urged European nations to prepare for unpredictable disruptions.
“We must foresee different scenarios, and Poland and the whole of Europe must be prepared for different possibilities regarding the situation not only on the Russian and Ukrainian fronts, but also on the EU’s eastern flank,” Tusk added.
Threats beneath the waves
The danger extends beyond dry land. Underwater communication networks are also facing mysterious probes in the freezing north.
Reuters reported on Thursday that NATO forces disrupted a covert Russian mission near Svalbard. Ships from Britain, Norway, and the United States tracked Russian ocean units this spring.
Those crews were testing submarine technology capable of cutting vital optical cables. The NATO intervention forced the Russian vessels to leave before any damage occurred.
Two optical cables link Svalbard to the Norwegian mainland. Western intelligence suspects this was a scouting run to probe the weaknesses of Europe’s data networks.
Sources: LA.LV, Reuters
