The case in summary PST warns Norwegian companies that do business with Ukraine about possible sabotage from Russian criminal networks. The security service has seen a pattern in other European countries where businesses trading with Ukraine are exposed to Russian sabotage. Russia tries to target these businesses in a visible way, for example by setting fire to warehouses or carrying out sabotage actions against infrastructure and transport. PST encourages companies to be aware of the value of what they sell and to take precautions to secure the business and values. Director of Police Benedicte Bjørnland emphasizes the need for closer cooperation between the police and PST, and encourages companies to report any sabotage actions. Arne Mjøs, CEO of Itera and board member of the Norwegian-Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce, takes the warning seriously, but believes that if Russia wanted to sabotage Norwegian exports, they would have done it a long time ago. The summary is made by an AI service from OpenAI. The content is quality assured by news’s journalists before publication. Changes in the export regulations mean that more Norwegian companies now have the opportunity to export products to Ukraine. The Norwegian Police Security Service (PST) and the police warn that this could lead to more attempts at sabotage and vandalism from foreign criminal networks. – We should increasingly be aware that Norwegian business and industry can also be exposed to sabotage, says PST boss Beate Gangås to news. The security service has seen a clear pattern in other European countries, where businesses that supply products and services to Ukraine are particularly exposed to Russian sabotage. – Russia will try to target those who support Ukraine in various ways. This gives parts of business life new challenges and a new threat situation to deal with. The threshold for entering into dialogue with the police and PST must be low, she says. Beate Gangås, head of PST Photo: Oddgeir Berland Øystese / news Has set fire to warehouses and carried out sabotage actions Gangås points out that Russia is trying to hit these businesses in a way that is very visible, for example by setting fire to warehouses or carrying out sabotage actions against infrastructure and the transport of the goods. The affected exports apply to both civilian and military use. – Of course they would like to target what contributes to Ukraine maintaining its military capacity, but they would also like to target, for example, civil technology that can be used for various things – including military purposes, says Gangås. The head of PST and the Director of Police had a presentation on how such activity can affect Norwegian companies, in Grieghallen on Friday. Photo: Oddgeir Berland Øystese / news PST asks companies to be aware of the value of what they sell actually has. They encourage companies to be concerned about their own safety, and to take precautions to secure their business and values. When asked whether Norwegian companies that trade with Ukraine are naive, Gangås clearly answers no. – But I think it is my duty and my task to be open about what is affecting businesses in other countries, and which can also clearly affect us. Here we are talking about state actors who would like to operate undercover and use other actors to carry out either sabotage actions or disruptive activity of another category, says Gangås. CEO of Itera and board member of the Norwegian-Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce, Arne Mjøs, believes that if Russia were looking to sabotage exports from Norway, they would have done it a long time ago. He is clear that they still take the warning seriously. – I think that we should take all such advice very seriously, says Mjøs. – I think it’s a bit far-fetched, but if PST says we should have the garden up, we will do it, he adds. Arne Mjøs thinks that each business must make its own risk assessment and consider putting measures in place. Photo: Oddgeir Berland Øystese / news Wants to create an image – asks businesses to speak up In other countries, the police have seen that a state actor gives assignments to criminal organisations. – There is something new. We have not seen it here in Norway, as far as I know, yet. But it requires even closer cooperation between the ordinary police and the country’s security authority, PST, in the time to come. This is what police director Benedicte Bjørnland says to news. She clarifies that it will never be possible to be completely sure: – But it is primarily about a good understanding of the phenomenon. Have good threat assessments. Know the player map, says Bjørnland. Director of Police Benedicte Bjørnland believes it is important from the PST and the police to be open with the population of Norway about the threats we face. Photo: Oddgeir Berland Øystese / news – What kind of information do you want from the companies? – If you have been exposed to what you think may be a regular act of damage, then it is a police matter. Then it may turn out – when you start the investigation – that this is about an act of sabotage, and that is where the responsibility of PST comes into play. Such situations will be an offence, regardless of who is behind it, points out Bjørnland. That is why you should always report to the police. In addition, it will help form a picture of what you are facing. – It is not always that we clear it up, or that we get to the bottom of it. But it is important in terms of forming a good picture of what you are facing. It is about making good analyzes to be able to reduce vulnerability for those who sit on the values. Hi! Thanks for reading this far! Do you have thoughts or input after reading the case? Or do you perhaps have suggestions for something we should write about? Feel free to get in touch! Published 16.11.2024, at 10.34
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Norwegian companies must count on several attempts at sabotage from Russia, believes PST – news Vestland
