In April, Norway’s Police Security Service (PST) reported that pro-Russian hackers seized control of a dam in Bremanger, western Norway, releasing 500 liters of water per second for four hours before being stopped.

While no injuries occurred, the incident highlighted the vulnerabilities in Norway’s hydropower-dependent energy infrastructure. PST chief Beate Gangås described the intrusion as a demonstrative cyberattack aimed at showcasing the hackers’ capabilities rather than causing physical destruction.

Gangås warned that such operations are designed to influence, create fear, and sow unrest among the public. She noted an escalation in pro-Russian cyber activity over the past year, with tactics focused on hybrid threats such as subversion, influence, polarization, and covert intelligence-gathering. The Russian embassy in Oslo dismissed the allegations as politically motivated, accusing PST of fabricating a “mythical” sabotage threat.

Norwegian authorities link the dam hack to a wider campaign of Russian-linked operations in Europe since late 2023, which have included sabotage and arson plots. Intelligence officials have identified Russia as Norway’s most significant and unpredictable security threat, though they do not anticipate direct interference in the upcoming elections. The breach was later confirmed by Norway’s Criminal Investigation Service (Kripos) after pro-Russian hacktivists posted a video on Telegram showing the dam’s control panel, bearing the group’s watermark.