“The threat of sabotage has increased significantly in 2026,”
said Inger Haugland, director of PST’s national threats department.
“We believe there is every reason to expect Russian
intelligence to carry out sabotage in Norway next year.”
According to the PST, the number of sabotage incidents in
Europe, including completed; disrupted; and failed attempts, is rising again
after declining in 2025. The operations have involved various methods,
including arson, explosives, and drones.
PST cited as an example a drone carrying explosives that was
discovered in August near Ukrainian transport aircraft at Leipzig/Halle Airport
in Germany. According to the agency, most such operations are carried out by
recruited intermediaries who may not know that a foreign government is behind
them.
PST considers Norway’s defense industry, related companies, and
critical infrastructure, such as the energy sector, to be the most likely
targets. No sabotage attempts against Norwegian facilities have been detected
so far. Haugland said, however, that the agency knows people linked to Russian
intelligence have already studied infrastructure and potential targets in
Norway.
On Oct. 21, The Wall Street Journal reported that
U.S. intelligence believes Russian dictator Vladimir Putin had ordered a new
wave of sabotage operations in Europe. U.S. officials consider an unsuccessful
drone attack involving explosives at Leipzig/Halle Airport in Germany in August
to be the start of the campaign.
According to Western officials, the attacks are being
carried out by the GRU’s Special Tasks Service, which was created in 2023 from
several of Russia’s most dangerous special forces units.