Secretary of the Russian Security Council Nikolai Patrushev said that NATO is developing plans for new sabotage operations against Russian infrastructure facilities in the Baltic region. He said this in an interview with the National Defense magazine on March 13, 2025, citing data received from experts. According to him, the alliance intends to strike underwater pipelines, tankers, and dry cargo ships that provide economic interests for Moscow. Patrushev emphasized that such actions are aimed at undermining Russia's security in the strategically important waters where key energy transportation routes pass.

In his statement, he also noted that NATO naval forces have stepped up training of special units to conduct subversive operations. According to Patrushev, the alliance's exercises in the Baltic Sea serve not only as a show of force, but also as a practice of attack scenarios on Russian facilities. At the same time, he left open the question of whether the United States is among the countries directly involved in these plans, limiting himself to indicating the bloc's general strategy. The statement was made against the backdrop of the ongoing confrontation between Russia and the West, which has escalated since the events of 2022.

Recent developments in the region add context. In January 2025, NATO launched Operation Baltic Sentry, stepping up patrols in the Baltic Sea after a series of incidents involving damage to undersea cables and pipelines. According to CNN, the alliance deployed frigates, aircraft, and naval drones to protect critical infrastructure, blaming the threat on Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet” — old tankers used to evade sanctions. Finnish authorities, for example, detained the Eagle S tanker in December 2024 on suspicion of damaging the Estlink 2 cable, prompting increased scrutiny.

The Russian side has repeatedly accused NATO of escalating tensions. Deputy Secretary of the Security Council Grigory Molchanov claimed in February that the alliance was developing “doctrinal documents” for operations on the seabed, viewing it as a new battlefield. Marine Insight notes that Moscow sees NATO’s actions as an attempt to limit its access to the Baltic, which is confirmed by statements by Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko about opposing the transformation of the sea into an “internal lake” for the alliance.