Russia conducted a secret exercise this spring to practice using a weapon against underwater cables near Svalbard. The operation was detected and disrupted by Norway and other NATO countries, according to two Western officials. Russian forces reportedly used deep-diving mini-submarines to simulate the deployment of advanced, destructive technology, organized by Russia’s Directorate for Submarine Warfare. In a coordinated response, Norway, the United Kingdom, and the United States tracked and confronted the Russian vessels. These vessels were prevented from completing the exercise and subsequently left the area. Norway and the UK previously revealed a secret Russian operation in Arctic waters in April; however, details of the new weapon, the specific location – near Svalbard – and the US involvement are newly disclosed.