Norway intelligence sees higher Russian sabotage risk

Norway's police intelligence service said Thursday it sees an increased risk that Russia will carry out sabotage in the country in the coming year.

The Norwegian Police Security Service, known as PST, said an increase in sabotage incidents in 2026 and the wider security situation had contributed to greater risk-taking by Russian intelligence services.

“We believe there is good reason to expect that Russian intelligence will carry out sabotage in Norway in the coming year,” said Inger Haugland, director of PST's department for state actors.

In an updated threat assessment, PST said the most likely targets in Norway were defence-related companies and businesses that provide services to them. It said critical infrastructure, including the energy sector, could also be targeted.

Haugland said PST had not uncovered attempts at sabotage operations against Norwegian targets, but was aware that actors linked to Russian intelligence had mapped infrastructure and targets in Norway.

PST said most operations in Europe had been carried out by proxies, and that recruited individuals might sometimes be unaware that a state actor was behind them.

Norway is a NATO member, shares a 198-kilometre Arctic land border with Russia and is a strong supporter of Ukraine.