UK says Russia ran submarine operation over cables and pipelines
UK says Russia ran submarine operation over cables and pipelines
Defence Secretary John Healey has claimed that Russia conducted a covert mission targeting undersea cables and energy pipelines near the UK’s Atlantic coast. A British warship and aircraft were deployed to counter Moscow’s “malign” activity, with no damage to UK infrastructure reported, he added.
Healey addressed Russian President Vladimir Putin directly, stating, “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 UK’s reliance on these undersea systems for data and energy was emphasized, highlighting their strategic importance.
At a Downing Street press conference on Thursday, Healey explained that Russia had used an Akula-class submarine as a distraction while two Guggi-class spy submarines carried out surveillance. He noted that the initial Akula submarine departed UK waters after being tracked, while the two Guggi vessels remained in the area.
The Royal Navy deployed a Type 23 frigate, HMS St Albans, the RFA Tidespring, and Merlin helicopters to monitor all three Russian submarines. Other nations were also involved in tracking the activity, though Healey only named Norway explicitly.
“Our armed forces left Russia in no doubt that they were being monitored, that their movements were not covert as Putin planned, and that their attempted secret operation had been exposed,” Healey said. “We watched them, we were able to track them, and we dropped sonar buoys to demonstrate we were monitoring every hour of their operation.”
Healey further stated that Putin sought to exploit global focus on the Middle East conflict, positioning Russia as the primary threat to UK security. While acknowledging Moscow’s ongoing risks, he expressed confidence in the UK’s ability to detect and respond to future covert activities.
Global Critical Infrastructure
Underwater cables and pipelines are a cornerstone of worldwide critical infrastructure. Over 600 undersea cables span 870,000 miles (1.4 million kilometers), transmitting electricity and data across oceans, often connecting to discreet coastal locations.
The UK also depends on a network of gas pipelines in the North Sea, delivering energy from both the UK and Norwegian continental shelves. The 724-mile (1,166 km) Langeled pipeline between Norway and the UK is a key example, with 77% of the nation’s gas imports sourced via these subsea routes.
BBC InDepth revealed in 2025 that Russia was waging “hybrid warfare” against the UK and Western Europe, aiming to penalize or deter continued military support for Ukraine. This strategy involves anonymous, deniable attacks carried out under suspicious circumstances, without directly attributing them to an act of war. The Russian embassy previously denied interest in British underwater communications.
