A Telegraph investigation cited by Tom’s Hardware reports more than 500 loitering incidents over four and a half years along communications links between the US and Europe.
A Telegraph investigation described by Tom’s Hardware on October 22 identifies 17 Russian fishing trawlers in more than 500 incidents of lingering above undersea communications cables over four and a half years. The investigation interprets the movements as possible surveying of links between the US and Europe. State direction and sabotage by these vessels are not established.
The cables’ general locations already appear on nautical charts so ships can avoid them. Operations involving the cables require more precise positioning, Tom’s Hardware explains. That distinction helps explain why repeated movements along known routes could be of interest to security authorities.
According to Tom’s Hardware, the investigation compared satellite-based vessel tracks from Global Fishing Watch with nautical charts marking cable locations. One trawler followed the routes of nine Atlantic cables, including a cable no longer in service. Another lingered near a transatlantic cable before following a route between Shetland and the Faroe Islands. A third partly followed cable routes connecting the US with the UK, France and Spain.
The vessels repeatedly slowed, sometimes travelling at two to three knots. A senior naval officer cited in the account said the suspected ships were large enough to carry uncrewed surface craft or remotely operated vehicles and could deploy tethered equipment at very low speeds. That assessment describes what the ships could carry, not a confirmed deployment.
A representative of NATO, the military alliance, told The Telegraph that it was aware of the Russian civilian fishing ships’ locations and activity. The communications network’s vast reach makes constant patrols difficult, Tom’s Hardware reports.
The first National Security Strategy in two decades commits to deeper European cooperation as Canada and the European Union discuss closer ties.
2 min
Much of the cable network lies in international waters, where vessels can generally pass over and map cables, according to Tom’s Hardware. Navies shadow suspect vessels, the publication says, but suspicious activity alone generally does not provide grounds for boarding, detention or seizure.
Ukraine’s ombudsman plans food and medical aid for about 2,000 people in the Russian-occupied city on October 30, with mine clearance still under way.
3 min
The change applies across pension schemes from 28 October 2026. Where the member died before 75 and had enough remaining allowance, delays beyond two years no longer make lump sums taxable.
4 min
