Three Russian submarines conducted a covert operation over cables and pipelines in waters north of the UK, Defence Secretary John Healey stated. A British warship and aircraft were deployed to deter this malign activity by Moscow, and there was no evidence of any damage to UK infrastructure in the Atlantic.
Healey addressed Russian President Vladimir Putin directly, emphasizing: We see you. We see your activity over our cables and our pipelines, and you should know that any attempt to damage them will not be tolerated and will have serious consequences. The Russian embassy in London has denied Healey's claims, per reports from Moscow's state news agency Tass.
The UK heavily relies on its undersea cables and pipelines for data and energy, with around 60 undersea cables coming ashore at various points along the UK coastline. More than 90% of the UK's daily internet traffic traverses these cables.
Healey detailed that Russia had dispatched an Akula class submarine as a diversion while two GUGI spy submarines monitored these cables. The attack submarine soon exited UK waters after being tracked, while the other two GUGI vessels remained operational.
Tass reported the embassy's claims that Russia does not threaten the underwater infrastructure crucial to the UK, asserting they are not employing aggressive rhetoric in this context.
The Royal Navy's response included deploying the frigate HMS St Albans, fuel tanker RFA Tidespring, and anti-submarine Merlin helicopters to keep close tabs on the Russian submarines, while international partners, including Norway, supported the surveillance efforts.
Healey warned that Russia’s activities constituted a serious threat to UK security, suggesting that the UK's armed forces effectively monitored and tracked Russian movements to prevent any covert operations that could undermine vital British interests.
