Stakes run high on-board a new NATO mission fighting the Russian sabotage of undersea cables

One of the Kremlin’s newest threats, according to NATO, is targeting undersea cables carrying vast quantities of data and power beneath the Baltic Sea.

ON THE BALTIC SEA — The crew of the Norwegian minehunter gave the black speedboat skimming the waves toward them one last chance to turn back before opening fire with machine guns mounted on the deck. 

From the bridge of the HNoMS Hinnøy, officers had tried sounding an air horn and shouting warnings over a loudspeaker. But when the boat kept coming, they were left with little option but to shoot.

This was just an exercise, intended to keep the crew of the Hinnøy sharp as they focused on their real mission: confronting a quiet and stealthy form of Russian aggression. 

Even as Presidents Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin negotiate the fate of the war in Ukraine — and express hope for better relations between Washington and Moscow — America’s NATO allies say there has been no letup in Russian sabotage operations across Europe. 

One of the Kremlin’s newest threats, according to NATO, is targeting undersea cables carrying vast quantities of data and power beneath the Baltic Sea to countries in northern Europe. 

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/russia-undersea-cables-nato-ukraine-war-baltic-sea-rcna196388

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