Ukraine’s embassies abroad play an important role in the defense against the Russian invasion, because they are the contact points for foreigners who want to enlist in the newly established Ukrainian Foreign Legion.
According to the Norwegian defense, 200-300 Norwegians have expressed their interest in fighting mot the Russian invasion. As Dagbladet reported on Wednesday, it should now be Norwegians arrive at the front in Ukraine.
UKRAINE’S EMBASSY: Flowers, candles and notes with words about peace in Ukraine are placed by the stairs outside the Ukrainian embassy at Frogner in central Oslo. Photo: Heiko Junge / NTB
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Therefore, it will be of great interest to Russia to eavesdrop on the embassies’ telephones. It can provide information both about the volunteer soldiers – but also about other types of strategically important information.
Dagbladet is aware that the Ukrainian embassy has recently contacted the Norwegian authorities, and that they themselves were sure that the Russians were monitoring them.
– Tapping phones
Dagbladet is further aware that the Norwegian authorities also have this impression. According to Dagbladet’s information, Norway is sure that Russian intelligence is dropping Ukrainian telephones here in Norway.
Dagbladet also knows that there has recently been a meeting between the Ukrainian embassy and the Norwegian police authorities. Both the police and PST must have been present at the meeting.
The topic of the meeting was Russian surveillance of telephone lines belonging to the Ukrainian Embassy.
DEMONSTRATED: There have been demonstrations outside the Russian embassy in Oslo. Photo: Nina Hansen
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– PST does not advise other countries, says senior adviser Martin Bernsen in PST to Dagbladet.
– Not in these times either?
– I can not comment on that, says Bernsen.
Dagbladet has sought the Russian embassy in Oslo for a comment. Questions by e-mail have not yet been answered – while when Dagbladet called the embassy, they refused to speak languages other than Russian.
Dagbladet has also been in contact with the Ukrainian embassy, which has not yet had the opportunity to comment.
Was notified
On Sunday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj requested that foreign fighters come to the country and enlist in the fight against Russia. The authorities set up a separate foreign war battalion to take part in the fighting against the Russian invasion forces.
NOTICE: The police security service (PST) in Nydalen in Oslo. Photo: Audun Braastad / NTB
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But in order to gain control of the forces – and to be able to carry out a background check on the volunteers – all soldiers must register with the embassies.
Dagbladet is aware that PST last week was notified of suspicions that the Russians have hacked telephone lines to the Ukrainian embassy in Arbins gate on Frogner. The inquiry came in connection with recruitment of volunteer soldiers from Norway.
