At least three cases are known when Russian intelligence has purchased or attempted to purchase equipment, the list of which includes underwater equipment.
Russian military intelligence (GRU) has tried several times in the past few years to buy advanced technical equipment, including underwater equipment, from Norwegian companies. E24 writes about it.
According to Dag Rehjell, head of the Norwegian Security Police Service (PST), on at least three occasions, Russian intelligence bought or attempted to buy equipment that the PST believed could be sent to the Russian army.
The cases concerned three individuals who, according to the PST, were operating in Norway under diplomatic cover, but were in fact working for the Russian military intelligence agency GRU because their behavior did not correspond to an ordinary diplomat
It is noted that initially the orders concern simple goods, analogues can be obtained in Moscow. Subsequently, the requests for the purchase of equipment became more complex: it was about dual-use goods that could be used in the defense industry.
So, at the end of 2021, a GRU officer stationed at the Russian embassy as a diplomat tried to buy two mini-submarines from a Norwegian company, allegedly as a gift to a friend.
PST sees a trend in Russia’s attempts to acquire underwater technology that began before February 24, 2022, and that underwater technology is a high priority for the Russians.
It can be remembered that in April, Norway declared 15 Russian diplomats persona non grata. The country lets them out through espionage.
Source: korrespondent
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