UK says it detected Russian submarine operation near undersea infrastructure
Britain said it detected and tracked a Russian attack submarine and other Russian undersea vessels near critical infrastructure in the High North, saying the operation failed after British and allied forces made clear the vessels had been spotted.
The operation began several weeks ago, when British aircraft and warships detected an Akula-class submarine in international waters north of the UK, according to the UK Ministry of Defence on Thursday. British officials said the submarine was used as a distraction while other Russian units linked to the Main Directorate of Deep Sea Research, or GUGI, operated elsewhere near undersea infrastructure.
The UK said it worked with allies, including Norway, to identify and monitor the Russian units. British officials said the GUGI vessels and the submarine later returned to Russia after the operation was no longer covert.
The Royal Navy said it deployed the frigate HMS St Albans, support ship RFA Tidespring and Merlin helicopters to shadow the submarine near British waters. RAF P8 aircraft also took part in the operation, and British forces used sonobuoys to help track the Russian vessels.
Britain said it has kept warships and aircraft ready in case Russian vessels return.
GUGI is a Russian military program that uses specialist ships and submarines for deep-sea operations. British officials say those capabilities can be used to locate and monitor underwater infrastructure in peacetime and to damage it in a conflict.
That infrastructure includes subsea fiber-optic cables, which carry more than 99% of international data traffic, including internet communications and voice calls. The cables are critical to banking, trade and global communications.
The UK said it has seen a 30% increase over the last two years in Russian vessels threatening its waters.
“While the eyes of many – understandably – were on the Middle East, our British Armed Forces were simultaneously responding to rising Russian threats north of the UK,” Defence Secretary John Healey MP said. “As we act to defend our interests and Allies in the Middle East, we are tackling increasing threats to NATO in the High North, maintaining strong support for Ukraine and protecting our UK homeland.”
“To Putin, I say this: we see you, we see your activity over our underwater infrastructure,” Healey added. “You should know that any attempt to damage it will not be tolerated and would have serious consequences.”
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Ella Rae Greene, Editor In Chief
