Drones are currently causing a stir in Norway. Why are they increasingly flying over critical infrastructure such as offshore oil and gas platforms? Why near the Nord Stream 1 and 2 gas pipelines? Russia could be behind it. Recently, several Russians have been arrested for illegally shooting their drones. Because apparently they are not interested in nature, but in energy infrastructure.
The suspicion: espionage! President Putin (70) apparently has specific oversight of oil and gas facilities. Norway has overtaken Russia as Western Europe’s largest gas supplier since energy imports from Russia were scaled back in the wake of Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine.
As the “Spiegel” writes, the drones are also spotted in remote production platforms in the middle of the North Sea. Hobby photographers and tourists can’t fly their drone that far. In addition, these are devices that are much larger than the commercially available ones. Norwegian security authorities are therefore alerted and are monitoring the systems carefully.
Supposedly traveling as tourists to admire the Northern Lights
Russians are not allowed to fly unmanned aircraft due to sanctions in Norway. That includes drones. Violations are punishable by up to three years in prison. The detainees were not aware of any violation of the law. You are in custody.
A few weeks ago, a Russian took pictures of Kirkenes Airport and the Bell helicopters. Four more Russians, a woman and three men, have since been arrested. They pretended to be tourists, but photographed objects that fall under the photography ban. No further details are known about what exactly the Russians photographed.
The detainees claim that they only want to photograph the northern lights and therefore drove to Norway via Finland. Authorities are now checking whether the Russians’ story is credible.
So far there is no evidence that the Russian authorities are behind it. These incidents and the sabotage of the Nord Stream 1 and 2 gas pipelines in the Baltic Sea have prompted Norway to increase security. (jwg/AFP)