Norway spy chief blames Russian hackers for dam sabotage in April
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Hackers opened a dam floodgate in Norway in April and released 500 litres of water a second for four hours.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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- Russian hackers took control of a Norwegian dam on April 7, opening a flood gate and releasing water for four hours.
- PST security police chief Beate Gangaas attributes the dam cyberattack to Russia, aiming to cause fear and chaos.
- Gangaas warns Norwegians to be prepared and prevent future Russian attacks, citing increased danger from their neighbour.
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ARENDAL, Norway – Russian hackers briefly took control of a dam in Norway earlier in 2025, the head of the Nordic country’s counter-intelligence agency said on Aug 13, the first time Oslo has officially attributed the cyber attack to its neighbour.
While in command of the dam in Bremanger, western Norway, on April 7, the hackers opened a floodgate and released 500 litres of water a second for four hours before the attack was detected and stopped, the authorities previously said.
No one was injured during the attack.
Norway produces most of its electricity via hydropower dams, and intelligence authorities have previously warned of the risk of attacks on its energy infrastructure.
“Over the past year, we have seen a change in activity from pro-Russian cyber actors,” Ms Beate Gangaas, head of Norway’s PST security police agency, said in a speech.
The incident at Bremanger was one such activity, Ms Gangaas added.
“The aim of this type of operation is to influence and to cause fear and chaos among the general population,” she said.
“Our Russian neighbour has become more dangerous.”
The Russian Embassy in Oslo did not immediately reply to a request for comment.
In September 2024, Britain’s spy chief accused Russia of waging a “staggeringly reckless campaign” of sabotage in Europe, partly to scare European countries from helping Ukraine. Moscow denies this is true.
After her speech, Ms Gangaas told Reuters that she was going public with the attribution to warn the general population and to try to prevent Russia from launching further attacks.
“I want Norwegians to be prepared,” she said in an interview.
Nato member Norway shares a border with Russia in the Arctic. Like the other Nordic countries, it is a staunch supporter of Ukraine.
It is also Europe’s largest supplier of gas, which is mostly transported via a network of pipelines under the North Sea. REUTERS
