# Undersea War: Cables Under Threat

> Russia's shadow fleet cuts global internet cables in a silent war.
- Title: Undersea War: Cables Under Threat · Foreign Policy | Shortify
- Summary: Russia's shadow fleet cuts global internet cables in a silent war. Russia's 600 ships threaten global internet cables, causing communication breakdowns.
- Keywords: russia, undersea cables, shadow fleet, internet disruption, cable damage, balticconnector, nord stream, c-lion1, elisa cables, matsu islands, taiwan, finnish navy
- Source: Foreign Policy — https://foreignpolicy.com/2026/10/16/undersea-war-book-review-cables-ocean-gray-zone-tactics
- Author: John Kampfner
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: russia, undersea cables, shadow fleet, internet disruption, cable damage, balticconnector, nord stream, c-lion1, elisa cables, matsu islands, taiwan, finnish navy
## Finnish Navy Prepares
Finnish navy vessels patrol the Gulf of Finland and archipelago near Russian, Estonian, and Finnish borders.
## Russia Tests Limits
Russia constantly tests how far it can go in the gray zone of almost-war.
## Shadow War Term
The preferred term for hybrid warfare is shadow war, encompassing actions undermining liberal democracy.
## Undersea Cable Threat
Undersea cables carry 95 to 99 percent of global internet traffic and are vulnerable to damage.
## Cable Vulnerability
Cables take squiggly paths and are sometimes precariously perched, described as a spider’s web.
## Matsu Islands Crisis
Matsu Islands lost internet on Feb. 8, 2023, after an underwater cable snapped.
## Cable Repair Delay
It took nearly two months to repair the Matsu Islands cable and restore services.
## Russia's Shadow Fleet
Russia deploys at least 600 ships, including old tankers from developing countries.
## Cable Damage Causes
Cables can be damaged by natural causes, submarines, or malicious actors.
## GPS Evasion Tactics
Russia's ships manipulate GPS signals to avoid detection and track naval vessels.
## Cable Incidents
Braw details incidents involving Balticconnector, Nord Stream, C-Lion1, Arelion, and Elisa cables.
## Matsu Islands Impact
Matsu Islands' 13,000 inhabitants faced digital blackout after cable snapped.
## Trump's Mining Order
Trump signed an executive order allowing deep-sea mining for rare-earth materials in 2025.
## Merz on War Definition
Chancellor Merz said war involves fluid transitions between peace and conflict, not digital zeros and ones.
## Key takeaway

Russia's 600 ships threaten global internet cables, causing communication breakdowns.