Britain has issued a stark warning to Vladimir Putin after the British military exposed a clandestine Russian submarine operation to map critical undersea infrastructure near UK waters. Ambassador Neil Holland, the UK’s head of delegation to the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), delivered the message in Vienna on Thursday: “You cannot operate in secret.”
The warning came after the UK, alongside allies, tracked a Russian Akula-class attack submarine and two spy submarines in the North Atlantic for a full month before they withdrew. Defence Secretary John Healey revealed the operation on April 9, stating that two of the vessels belonged to Russia’s Main Directorate of Deep Sea Research (GUGI), a programme designed to survey underwater infrastructure during peacetime and sabotage it in conflict.
Speaking on behalf of the UK, Norway and the Netherlands, Holland said the vessels were ordered by Russia to “conduct hybrid warfare activities against the UK and its Allies, specifically around Critical Undersea Infrastructure”. This network of seafloor cables is vital for global internet, data sharing and financial transactions. In response, the UK deployed Armed Forces to “track and deter any malign activity”, Holland confirmed.
Holland concluded with an unequivocal message: “Our message to Russia is this: you cannot operate in secret. We are ready to meet the increased threat in the North Atlantic. The UK and our Allies are ready to respond to any threat to our Critical Undersea Infrastructure. And any attempt to damage our Critical Undersea Infrastructure would have serious consequences.”
Healey earlier issued a direct warning to Putin, saying: “We see you, we see your activity over our underwater infrastructure. You should know that any attempt to damage it will not be tolerated and would have serious consequences.”
