Ankara: The Swedish navy is encountering Russian submarines in the Baltic Sea almost every week, as stated by a senior naval commander. Capt. Marko Petkovic, the Swedish navy's chief of operations, emphasized that the sightings of Russian vessels have become very common and have increased in recent years due to Moscow's efforts to expand and modernize its fleet.

According to Anadolu Agency, Petkovic noted that Russia's continuous reinforcement of its presence in the region is expected to rise further once a ceasefire or armistice is reached in Ukraine. He expressed concerns that Russia will enhance its capabilities in the Baltic Sea, a region that has recently witnessed a surge in security incidents, including suspected drone activities, alleged sabotage of underwater infrastructure, and movements of aging oil tankers forming Russia's 'shadow fleet.'

The UK defense secretary also highlighted a recent incident where a Russian spy ship entered British waters, shining lasers at military pilots, signaling a potential new era of threats from hostile states. In response, Sweden recently hosted one of NATO's largest anti-submarine warfare drills, Playbook Merlin 25, involving nine nations, including Germany, France, and the US, to tackle the challenging underwater terrain in the Baltic.

Petkovic explained that the steep underwater terrain near Sweden offers submarines more hiding opportunities, complicating detection efforts. He pointed out that Russia is producing approximately one Kilo-class submarine per year in St. Petersburg and the Kaliningrad exclave, which sits strategically between Poland and Lithuania.

Describing Russia's naval activity as a deliberate and continuous modernization effort, Petkovic warned about the potential military risks posed by Russia's shadow fleet, composed of civilian-flagged oil tankers. These vessels could potentially launch drones or conduct covert operations, despite not being a direct military problem themselves.

Furthermore, Petkovic stressed the vulnerability of underwater infrastructure in the Baltic Sea, affecting countries such as Sweden, Norway, Finland, Estonia, and Lithuania, due to challenging underwater conditions like low visibility, varying salinity, and temperature fluctuations. These nations heavily rely on maritime routes for communication and supplies.

Nonetheless, Petkovic acknowledged that NATO's increased vigilance has had a deterrent effect. Since the initiation of Operation Baltic Sentry in January, there have been no cable incidents reported in the region. He concluded by affirming that the alliance is effective in maintaining security in the Baltic Sea.