UK Armed Forces Deter Russian Submarine Activity in Major Month-Long Operation
Defence Secretary John Healey has announced that UK armed forces were deployed in a massive month-long operation to track and deter 'malign activity' by Russian submarines targeting critical undersea infrastructure. The operation involved over 5,000 British personnel working closely with allies, including Norway, to monitor Russian naval units in the North Atlantic.
Monitoring of Russian Submarines in the North Atlantic
British aircraft and warships identified a Russian attack submarine entering international waters in the High North several weeks ago and tracked its activity around the clock. UK and allied forces monitored this submarine along with two Russian spy submarines before they retreated. The Ministry of Defence stated that service personnel quickly established the attack submarine was deployed as a distraction, allowing them to focus on other Russian undersea units conducting 'nefarious activity over critical undersea infrastructure elsewhere'.
The Russian vessels were from the Main Directorate of Deep Sea Research (GUGI), a secretive agency operating specialised submarines. This is not the first time British defences have been tested by GUGI; last year, the Russian spy ship Yantar sailed near UK waters and was tracked by a Royal Navy frigate and RAF P8s, with lasers directed at British pilots.
Protection of Vital Undersea Infrastructure
An undersea network of cables and pipelines is vital to the UK, carrying 99% of international telecoms and data traffic and half the gas that heats homes, underpinning global banking, trade, and communications. In a direct message to Vladimir Putin, Mr Healey said: '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.' There is no evidence any damage has been done to the cables or pipelines.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer emphasised the government's resolve, stating: 'I am determined to protect the British people from paying the price for Putin's aggression in their household bills. That is why we will not shy away from taking action and exposing Russia's destabilising activity that seeks to test our resolve.' He added that the UK 'will not shy away from taking action' against Russia and praised the armed forces as among the best in the world.
Conclusion of Operation and Future Commitments
The military operation has now concluded, with Mr Healey noting: 'Our armed forces left them in no doubt that they were being monitored, that their movements were not covert, as President Putin planned, and that their attempted secret operation had been exposed. Those GUGI submarines have now left UK waters and headed back north.' To bolster future defences, the UK is committing an additional £100 million to support P8 submarine hunting aircraft, stepping up protection for critical underwater infrastructure.
