Belgium says it is investigating the presence of a Russian ‘spy ship’ in the North Sea that could ‘suspiciously approach wind farms, undersea gas, data cables and other critical infrastructure’ in the midst of concerns.
Belgium’s deputy prime minister and minister of justice and North Sea, Vincent van Quickenborn, said the Netherlands will try to get information on Monday for Russian ships to “sabotage” the energy infrastructure at an offshore wind farm in Dutch territory. This announcement was made after announcing that it had discovered that North Sea, according to Reuters.
“We don’t know the exact motives of this Russian ship, but don’t just think about it,” Van Quickenborn said in a statement, describing the ship spotted in the Belgian North Sea as a “spy ship.” bottom.
“Especially when it behaves suspiciously near wind farms, subsea gas, data cables and other critical infrastructure,” he added.
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Belgium says it is investigating the presence of a Russian “spy ship” in the Belgian North Sea. (Michael Jacobs/Art in All of Us/Corbis via Getty Images/Maksim Konstantinov/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
According to AFP, the Russian vessel, which was first spotted in November, has turned off its AIS tracking beacons.
“This ship’s passage should definitely be viewed in the broader context of the war in Ukraine,” Van Quickenborn’s statement reportedly added.
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Fox News Digital has reached out to the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs for comment.
![Wind turbines are seen on the North Sea in Scheveningen, Netherlands.](https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2023/02/640/320/Netherlands-wind-turbines.png?ve=1&tl=1)
Wind turbines are seen on the North Sea in Scheveningen, Netherlands.
Earlier this week, the Dutch Military Information Security Service (MIVD) reported that a Russian vessel attempted to obtain detailed information on the North Sea’s energy infrastructure, but was escorted from the area by Dutch Marine and Coast Guard ships, according to Reuters. said it was. .
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“In recent months, we have seen Russian officials trying to clarify how the energy system works in the North Sea. This is the first time,” MIVD Maj.
“Russia is mapping how the North Sea wind park will work,” he reportedly added. “They are very interested in ways to sabotage the energy infrastructure.”