Norway's security service, the PST, said on Thursday there is good reason to expect that Russian intelligence will carry out sabotage in Norway in the coming year, warning that the threat of sabotage had seen a serious development during 2026, Reuters reported.

Source: Reuters, Nov 12, 2026

The PST said the defence industry — defence companies and the firms that provide services to them — are the most likely targets in Norway. Critical infrastructure, such as energy facilities, could also be targeted, the service said in its statement.

Threat raised, but no attempt identified yet

The service was careful to separate the warning from an actual attack. The PST said it had not identified any attempts at sabotage against Norwegian targets. But it added that actors linked to Russian intelligence have mapped out infrastructure and targets in Norway — the preparation stage that, in the service's assessment, now makes an actual sabotage operation likely in the year ahead.

An independent Norwegian analysis of the updated assessment, published the same day, said the PST raised its sabotage threat assessment on November 12 after a rise across Europe in completed attacks, foiled plots and attempts in 2026, following a decline in 2025, and described the development over the past six months as serious.

Source: The New Backyard, Nov 12, 2026

Why Norway, and why now

Norway is a NATO member that shares a land border with Russia, is one of Ukraine's strong backers, and is Europe's largest supplier of pipeline natural gas — a combination that puts its defence factories and energy infrastructure near the top of Europe's hybrid-warfare risk list. The PST has previously described Russian recruitment attempts inside Norway's defence industry, and neighbouring Denmark's security service, PET, warned in September of concrete Russian planning and preparation for sabotage directed at Denmark, particularly against defence companies helping Ukraine.

Hybrid warfare and sabotage on European soil gained renewed attention after Germany in September blamed Russia for an attempted drone attack at Leipzig/Halle Airport, which prompted European Union members to call for new sanctions against Russia, Reuters reported.

Moscow's position

Moscow has repeatedly denied involvement in sabotage or hybrid warfare operations in Europe. The PST warning is an intelligence assessment of a likely future attack, not a report of one: no sabotage attempt against a Norwegian target has been identified, and no specific plot, date or target has been made public.

What happens next

The warning puts Norway's defence companies, their suppliers and energy operators on notice to harden sites and watch for recruitment approaches and reconnaissance. It also lands one day after the five Nordic countries — Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland and Iceland — announced they will work towards a common defence deal inside NATO. If a sabotage attempt is made and attributed to Russian intelligence, it would be expected to trigger new European sanctions pressure of the kind that followed the Leipzig/Halle case.

What is solid

  • The PST said on Nov 12 that Russian intelligence is likely to carry out sabotage in Norway in the coming year, and that the sabotage threat developed seriously in 2026.
  • The PST said defence companies and their service firms are the most likely targets, energy infrastructure could also be targeted, and Russian-linked actors have mapped Norwegian infrastructure and targets.
  • The PST said it has not identified any sabotage attempt against a Norwegian target.

What is only claimed

  • Whether an attack will actually happen, and against what, is an intelligence judgement, not an established fact.
  • Moscow has repeatedly denied involvement in sabotage or hybrid warfare in Europe.