Russia’s Navy Chief Accuses NATO of Major Spy Buildup in Arctic Region

Alexander Moiseev claims alliance has intensified surveillance from Iceland and Finland in bid to “contain” Russian activities.

MOSCOW — The head of the Russian Navy, Alexander Moiseev, has publicly accused NATO of significantly escalating intelligence-gathering operations in the strategically vital Arctic, state news agency TASS reported on Tuesday.

Admiral Moiseev asserted that anti-submarine warfare aircraft from the United States, Britain, and Canada, operating out of Iceland, have shown a substantial increase in activity. He further pointed to NATO plans to deploy strategic surveillance drones in Finland, a new alliance member.

The naval chief framed these actions as a coordinated effort by the Western military alliance to monitor and restrict Russian operations in the resource-rich and increasingly contested Arctic region. “NATO’s aim was to contain Russian activities in the Arctic,” Moiseev was quoted as saying.

The public accusation underscores rising tensions in the High North, where melting ice is opening new shipping routes and access to untapped natural resources, intensifying geopolitical and military competition.