A police boat patrols near wind farms in the Belgian section of the North Sea in May 2022. EPA
A police boat patrols near wind farms in the Belgian section of the North Sea in May 2022. EPA
A police boat patrols near wind farms in the Belgian section of the North Sea in May 2022. EPA
A police boat patrols near wind farms in the Belgian section of the North Sea in May 2022. EPA

World

Europe

Belgium investigates 'Russian spy ship'

Ship appeared to pay particular attention to country's offshore wind farms, official said

Soraya Ebrahimi
Soraya Ebrahimi

February 21, 2023

  • English
  • Arabic

A suspected Russian spy ship was seen off Belgium's North Sea coast, prompting the country to launch an investigation over fears that it was watching key energy and communications centres, a minister said on Tuesday.

The boat was seen in November after being reported in Dutch waters with its AIS beacon, a compulsory device allowing shipping authorities to identify and track vessels, switched off.

"We don't know the exact motives of this Russian ship, but let's not be naive," said Justice Minister Vincent Van Quickenborne, who is also Belgium's Minister for the North Sea.

"Especially if it behaves suspiciously near our wind farms, undersea gas pipelines and data cables, and other critical infrastructure."

READ MORE

Norwegian police arrest suspected Russian spy in Arctic town

Mr Van Quickenborne said Belgian maritime authorities had begun their own investigation and were working with other North Sea coastal states to increase security.

"The passage of this vessel should doubtless be seen in the broader context of the war in Ukraine," the minister's office said.

Russia's already tense relations with the West hit a low last year when Moscow launched its invasion of Ukraine, and EU and Nato members, including Belgium, responded with sanctions.

Russia and Ukraine conflict latest - in pictures

A tank, seen left, fires a round in Soledar, a town in the Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine. Reuters
A tank, seen left, fires a round in Soledar, a town in the Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine. Reuters
Tank fire in Soledar, Donetsk. Reuters
Tank fire in Soledar, Donetsk. Reuters
Firefighters work to put out a blaze at a Kharkiv fireworks storage site after it was struck by a Russian missile. Getty
Firefighters work to put out a blaze at a Kharkiv fireworks storage site after it was struck by a Russian missile. Getty
Col Gen Oleksandr Syrskyi, commander of Ukraine's ground forces, visits his troops on the frontline in Soledar, Donetsk. Reuters
Col Gen Oleksandr Syrskyi, commander of Ukraine's ground forces, visits his troops on the frontline in Soledar, Donetsk. Reuters
A Ukrainian flag attached to a tank flutters in the wind in Bakhmut. Reuters
A Ukrainian flag attached to a tank flutters in the wind in Bakhmut. Reuters
A specialist from an emergency crew works on a residential building in Donetsk that was damaged in recent shelling. Reuters
A specialist from an emergency crew works on a residential building in Donetsk that was damaged in recent shelling. Reuters
A missile fragment left by shelling in Russian-controlled Donetsk. AP
A missile fragment left by shelling in Russian-controlled Donetsk. AP
Residents remove debris and carry their belongings out of a building destroyed by recent shelling in Donetsk, Russian-controlled Ukraine. Reuters
Residents remove debris and carry their belongings out of a building destroyed by recent shelling in Donetsk, Russian-controlled Ukraine. Reuters
Ukrainian forces fire an anti-aircraft weapon as Russia's attack on the frontline city of Bakhmut continues. Reuters
Ukrainian forces fire an anti-aircraft weapon as Russia's attack on the frontline city of Bakhmut continues. Reuters
A car drives past a destroyed building purported to have been used as temporary accommodation for Russian soldiers, dozens of whom were killed in a Ukrainian missile strike in Makiivka, Russian-controlled Ukraine. Reuters
A car drives past a destroyed building purported to have been used as temporary accommodation for Russian soldiers, dozens of whom were killed in a Ukrainian missile strike in Makiivka, Russian-controlled Ukraine. Reuters
The site of a temporary barracks for Russian soldiers in Makiivka, which was destroyed in a Ukrainian missile attack. Reuters
The site of a temporary barracks for Russian soldiers in Makiivka, which was destroyed in a Ukrainian missile attack. Reuters
A Ukrainian serviceman carries his injured comrade from the battlefield to a hospital in the Donetsk region. AP
A Ukrainian serviceman carries his injured comrade from the battlefield to a hospital in the Donetsk region. AP
Smoke rises after shelling in Soledar, the site of heavy battles with Russian forces in the Donetsk region. AP
Smoke rises after shelling in Soledar, the site of heavy battles with Russian forces in the Donetsk region. AP

Nato powers have supplied Ukraine with advanced weapons and have been looking to shore up their own defences, including against any covert maritime sabotage.

In September last year, underwater bombings destroyed sections of the Nord Stream pipelines that had previously carried Russian natural gas to Germany.

Western countries have blamed the September pipeline explosions on Russia, but Moscow has accused the US of sabotage, and neither side has produced conclusive evidence.

Putin: The West is threatening Russia's existence with Ukraine war - video

On January 11, Nato and the EU set up a joint working group to reinforce the protection of Europe's vital infrastructure, in particular energy supplies.

Mr Van Quickenborne said the suspect ship had appeared to pay particular attention to Belgium's offshore wind farms.

More on this story
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
While you're here
What is dialysis?

Dialysis is a way of cleaning your blood when your kidneys fail and can no longer do the job.

It gets rid of your body's wastes, extra salt and water, and helps to control your blood pressure. The main cause of kidney failure is diabetes and hypertension.

There are two kinds of dialysis — haemodialysis and peritoneal.

In haemodialysis, blood is pumped out of your body to an artificial kidney machine that filter your blood and returns it to your body by tubes.

In peritoneal dialysis, the inside lining of your own belly acts as a natural filter. Wastes are taken out by means of a cleansing fluid which is washed in and out of your belly in cycles.

It isn’t an option for everyone but if eligible, can be done at home by the patient or caregiver. This, as opposed to home haemodialysis, is covered by insurance in the UAE.

Updated: February 21, 2023, 9:38 PM`
EuropeRussiaBelgium