European Centre for Counter terrorism and Intelligence Studies, Germany & Netherlands – ECCI
Russia Using Shipwreck As Base for Underwater Espionage on NATO: Report
NEWSWEEK ـ Russia may be using the wreck of the MS Estonia–a Baltic Sea ferry that sank in 1994–as a training ground and strategic base for covert underwater surveillance operations targeting NATO forces, independent European investigators have said in a new report. The MS Estonia, which claimed 852 lives when it sank en route from Tallinn to Stockholm, is officially designated as a protected gravesite because many of the bodies were never recovered and is off-limits to divers.
But now, German broadcasters WDR, NDR and Süddeutsche Zeitung have reported uncovered growing suspicions that Russia has quietly violated this prohibition, turning the site into a platform for espionage and military exercises near critical NATO waterways.Newsweek has contacted the Russian Defense Ministry, via email, for comment.
Why It Matters
The allegations highlight escalating tensions between Russia and NATO, particularly in the strategically vital Baltic region.If substantiated, Russia’s use of a maritime disaster site for clandestine military purposes represents both a security threat and a sensitive violation of an international agreement aimed at honoring the victims.
What To Know
According to a joint investigation by German broadcasters, several NATO member states have received intelligence that in recent years, Russian military units have conducted deep-water operations at the Estonia site.Moscow has reportedly positioned equipment at or near the wreck, including high-precision navigation devices and sensors capable of guiding submersible drones and recording the acoustic ‘signatures’ of NATO warships and submarines circulating in the Baltic Sea.
These technologies enable Russia to monitor naval activity discreetly and potentially prepare for disruption of critical sea routes, including energy and communication cables. The Russian Main Directorate for Deep-Sea Research (GUGI), a top-secret unit within the Russian defense ministry, is identified as overseeing such operations. GUGI operates a fleet of special-purpose vessels and underwater drones, including the special purpose intelligence collection ship Yantar, which NATO navies regularly track near sensitive undersea infrastructure in the North and Baltic Seas.
Finland’s Border Guard told German media it would not comment on specific surveillance operations for operational reasons. Estonia’s Foreign Ministry also said they are closely monitoring events in the Baltic in cooperation with allies.
What People Are Saying
The report says: “The wreck’s location in the Baltic Sea between Sweden, Finland, and the Baltic states, according to several military representatives in discussions, is ideal for secretly gathering relevant intelligence due to its sea routes. In addition, Russia can operate there undisturbed because there is an official diving ban. Another advantage is that, unlike on the sandy Baltic Sea floor, equipment attached to the wreck is hardly noticeable and can be permanently mounted.”
What Happens Next
The reports may lead to increased NATO surveillance and new security measures in the Baltic Sea, including expanded patrols and the launch of Operation Baltic Sentry.Western officials, while refraining from discussing operational details, have stressed their commitment to defending critical undersea infrastructure and monitoring sites with strategic vulnerabilities.
