Russia's next move may to target international communications networks - expert Voyger

Mark Voyger, ex-adviser to the former US Army commander in Europe, shared his insights with Espreso TV. 

He believes that if Russia fails to make progress on the battlefield, it will expand the conflict using hybrid means and may try to disrupt the submarine network connections linking Europe and the Americas.

“International communications networks are the backbone of the international economy and politics. Therefore, it would be logical that, in times of heightened confrontation, Russia would also try to damage these cables. Of course, it's not an easy dive, you need a deep-sea vehicle. In several  kilometers of the Baltic Sea, we are talking about 50 meters or even 100-130 meters deep, in the Atlantic Ocean - several kilometers. Technologically, it is much more difficult. But I said earlier that it is possible that cutting transatlantic communications like this is part of some kind of military plan for a potential military confrontation with the West,” Mark Voyger explained.

• On March 14, in international airspace over the Black Sea, a Russian Su-27 fighter jet collided with a US MQ-9 Reaper drone. The drone was shot down as a result of the incident. After the incident, the United States began negotiations with Russia at the 'highest level' and summoned the Russian ambassador to Washington.

• Russian Ambassador to the United States Anatoly Antonov said after the incident with the downing of the American MQ-9 Reaper drone over the Black Sea that Moscow does not want a confrontation with the United States, but “American aircraft have nothing to do near the Russian border.”

• On March 16, the US Department of Defense released a video of a Russian Su-27 collision with a US MQ-9 drone over the Black Sea on Tuesday.

• On March 17, an American RQ-4 Global Hawk drone with the call sign FORTE10 entered the Black Sea.