Norway says ousted Russian officials sought sources and technology. The Norwegian PST security police said Friday that 15 Russian diplomats expelled this week aimed to cultivate sources, intercept communications, and acquire advanced technology.
PST counterintelligence head Inger Haugland informed a press conference that the diplomats’ true employers were the Russian GRU, FSB, and SVR.
“This lowers the threat from Russian intelligence in Norway by permanently reducing the number of intelligence officers operating under diplomatic cover,” Haugland said of the expulsions.
Norway’s greatest expulsion of Russian diplomats follows Western expulsions since Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
The foreign ministry said Norway would expel over one-third of 40 Russian diplomats.
PST Superintendent Dag Roehjell told Reuters that the ejected individuals worked in the Russian delegation’s consular, commerce, and diplomatic sectors in Oslo.
Haugland claimed one wanted to acquire advanced subsea technology for Russia’s GRU military intelligence organization.
Roehjell said Russian intelligence is particularly interested in Norway’s defense industry. It’s military backing for Ukraine, and its oil and gas sector, as Europe’s largest gas provider.
Moscow spies on Norway’s oil and gas technology since it cannot obtain it owing to international sanctions.
Arctic Russia borders NATO member Norway. Since the Ukraine war, it has increased security around its oil and gas assets.
Russia said Friday that Norway had suffered “a serious blow” and was “increasingly confirming the status of a state hostile to Russia.”
“These actions will not go unanswered on our part; we will implement a tough response,” Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said without elaborating.
Norway captured an unlawful Russian spy in October.
After last year’s Nord Stream pipeline accidents, Norway investigated drone sightings near oil and gas facilities onshore and offshore.
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