Russian spy ships observed a large live-fire naval exercise by Germany in October 2025 off the coast of northern Norway’s Andøya island. The German Navy’s Maritime Firing Exercise led by the frigate Sachsen involved 10 German naval assets, including frigates, corvettes, tenders, supply ships, on-board helicopters and a submarine, according to a German Navy news release. As the October 13-24 exercise unfolded, it was closely observed by two ships linked to Russian intelligence activities, reported the Barents Observer, a Norwegian newspaper.
The exercise is an annual event, but the 54 missiles launched and other torpedo and artillery tests represented the largest such drill in decades, the German Navy stated. During the operation, the Akademik Boris Petrov sailed nearby, reported the Barents Observer. The Royal Norwegian Navy has identified the Petrov, which is registered as an oceanographic research vessel, as a Russian spy ship due to previous sightings near Norwegian oil and gas facilities. Another Russian ship, MP Arkhangelsk, a 145-meter cargo ship sanctioned for transporting illegal weapons, also was sighted near the maritime firing range, the newspaper reported.
Russia’s shadow fleet — hundreds of aging ships registered under dubious circumstances that help Moscow evade sanctions by illegally ferrying oil and gas — has come under increasing scrutiny after a spate of sabotage incidents linked to the ships in the Baltic Sea. The Arkhangelsk has been tracked as a frequent visitor to Kaliningrad, the heavily fortified Russian Baltic territory surrounded by Poland. Kaliningrad frequently is seen as a potential flashpoint for a confrontation between Russia and NATO.
The German Navy said the exercise sends a clear message to potential adversaries. “This shooting project is not only proof of Germany’s deterrence capability but also shows that the navy is ready for national and alliance defense. The German Navy thus demonstrates that it is ready to use its capabilities at any time, regardless of the sea area,” the October 13 news release stated.
Since 2016, the German Navy has used the Andøya firing range to test missiles, torpedoes and artillery fired from ships and naval vessels. Located 300 kilometers above the Arctic Circle, the range lies far from civilian shipping routes and allows for long-range testing, the release stated. The German and Norwegian governments signed a 2021 agreement allowing for the German Navy to continue to use the range. “The relative geographical proximity to Germany and the favourable conditions on the ground make Andøya Space Defence and its facilities for the Navy the first choice for firing exercises,” the release stated.
In September, Russian warplanes buzzed a German Navy frigate taking part in a NATO exercise in the Baltic Sea. “The incursion of Russian drones and warplanes deep in Polish and Estonian airspace and the overflight of a German frigate in the Baltic Sea within a few days make it clear that Russia is literally testing borders, including of NATO states, with increasing frequency and intensity,” German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said.