Tusk warns of intensified Russian sabotage activities on Baltic Sea
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has warned the Baltic Sea could evolve into a zone of ongoing conflict with Russia in light of the operations of a 'shadow fleet' targeting the country's power cables.
On Wednesday, Tusk reported that a vessel belonging to Russia's so-called shadow fleet was observed conducting a suspicious operation on the Baltic Sea, near the power cable linking Poland with Sweden. Following a successful intervention by the Polish military, the ship proceeded in the direction of a Russian port.
At a special security meeting held on Thursday at the Polish Navy's tactical command centre in Gdynia, located in northern Poland, the prime minister warned that such incidents may escalate, posing a significant threat to the nation's ongoing maritime investments, including offshore wind farms and gas pipelines.
"The Baltic Sea could evolve into a zone of continuous hybrid confrontation, similar to the Polish eastern border," he said, labelling the incident as "a direct aggression" against the country's security.
Tusk reported that, as of now, no threats had been detected at the location, but the naval survey vessel, ORP Heweliusz, continues to examine the seabed for possible explosives.
He told a press conference following the meeting that a decision had been made to "immediately initiate an order for drones by the Navy."
"With the help of drones, we will be able to effectively control what is happening under the water, on the water and above the water," Tusk said.
The so-called shadow fleet consists of substandard and uninsured tankers operating under various flags, which Russia employs to evade Western sanctions. The ships are also suspected of carrying out sabotage operations in the Baltic Sea.
The West, including the European Union and the United Kingdom, is targeting the fleet with additional sanctions, such as the new set of measures announced by the EU and UK on Tuesday. (PAP)
aj/ mmr/ jch / mar/
