cross-posted from: https://feddit.org/post/2724505
Russia's naval activity near undersea cables is reportedly drawing the scrutiny of US officials, further sparking concerns that the Kremlin may be plotting to "sabotage" underwater infrastructure via a secretive, dedicated military unit called the General Staff Main Directorate for Deep Sea Research (GUGI).
[...]
Knocking out internet and telecommunications traffic traveling across these fiber-optic cables would have a devastating effect on government, military, and private-sector communications.
More than 95 percent of international data flows through those submarine cables, which puts them at increasing risk of both cyber and physical attacks .
[...]
Last year, public broadcasters of Sweden, Denmark, Norway, and Finland uncovered a Russian fleet of suspected spy ships operating in Nordic waters, reportedly for purposes of sabotaging both submarine cables and wind farms.
**In addition to communications, the cables also carry electricity between European countries. **
[...]
"Any activities that damaged seabed infrastructure including undersea cables especially during periods of heightened tensions risks misunderstandings and misperceptions that could lead to unintended escalation," [said an] US official. "The US would be especially concerned about damage to our or our allies' critical undersea infrastructure."
If I was running a country and preparing to cut cables like that, it would be because I'd infected the enemy with some type of virus that when activated would wreak havoc over their internet. I'd cut the cables immediately before activation. However, I might be smarter than the Russian leadership, and I don't run a country.