Published: Just now
Sweden has expelled five suspected Russian spies following recent reporting.
– It cannot be ruled out that they try to recreate and establish such a presence again, says Daniel Stenling at Säpo.
The security police know that Russia uses both military and civilian ships to conduct intelligence operations against Sweden.
That’s what Daniel Stenling, head of counterintelligence at Säpo, says after a meeting with the Riksdag’s defense committee. At the meeting today, he informed the politicians about the situation after the recent reporting from SVT’s Uppdrag review about Russia’s suspected espionage.
– In general, you can say that it is not something that we are surprised by, we have known that civilian ships are used. They use both civilian and military parts to conduct their business, says Stenling.
Underwater cables
SVT has shown how Russian ships map sensitive infrastructure in Nordic waters. It can be about wind farms, gas pipelines, electricity lines and internet cables at sea. At least one of the vessels is officially classified as a research vessel.
Following the reporting, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has expelled five Russian diplomats who are suspected of espionage against Sweden.
Daniel Stenling says he does not rule out Russia replacing the five intelligence agents.
– They have a great interest in having this presence in countries that they spy against, also in Sweden, so it cannot be ruled out that they try to recreate and establish such a presence again.
– It is something we need to be vigilant about and to the extent possible we can prevent such an establishment and such activity.
Strengthen control
The Christian Democrats’ defense policy spokesperson Mikael Oscarsson, who had summoned Säpo and the defense forces to the Riksdag, thinks it is a problem that the Swedish Maritime Administration gives out exemptions to Russian ships so that they don’t have to have pilots with them.
– To me, it is obvious that we need to increase control over Swedish territorial waters, he says.