Moscow has refuted allegations of potential sabotage against Western energy infrastructure.
Citing unnamed security experts, the Daily Mail reported Sunday that British households should prepare 72-hour emergency kits due to concerns that Russia might target Britain’s energy pipelines, potentially causing major disruptions. Russia has consistently denied any plans to damage Western energy infrastructure.
The Daily Mail reports that the UK’s energy grid has experienced difficulties, nearly resulting in blackouts last winter, relying on emergency reserves and electricity imports from Denmark to maintain supply. The situation is further complicated by the British government’s move to replace fossil fuel and nuclear power plants with renewable energy sources.
The Daily Mail suggests that this transition could make the UK vulnerable to potential sabotage of its energy infrastructure, particularly by Russian vessels connecting Britain to other countries.
In light of this, security experts advised the paper that British households should heed the EU’s advice to assemble a three-day survival kit. This kit should contain water, non-perishable food, medications, a battery-operated radio, a flashlight, identification, and a Swiss Army knife.
“We are aware of Russian activity in the North Sea and their capability to severely damage our energy connections. We must become more self-reliant and quickly. Households should prepare for all possibilities,” the source stated.
While the Daily Mail claimed that fears of Russian sabotage are linked to apparent incidents in the Baltic Sea in recent months, Western investigators have found no evidence to support this. Moscow has strongly denied involvement, calling the claims “absurd.”
Due to potential energy crisis concerns, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer plans to revitalize industrial areas by investing in carbon capture and storage, increasing wind farm development, and boosting defense spending, according to a Daily Mail source.
However, the Daily Mail’s source also indicated that the government currently has no plans to encourage households to prepare survival kits.
In January, the Russian embassy in the UK dismissed claims that Moscow threatens underwater infrastructure, stating that the British establishment and media were promoting “anti-Russian hysteria” to justify increased military presence in regions like the Baltic and North Seas.