UK admits Russian submarines operated over subsea cables for a month

Russian submarines have been operating in and around UK waters near undersea cables and infrastructure for around a month, in a startling admission of the scale of Moscow’s grey-zone activities and London’s apparent inability to prevent them from taking place.

In a special media briefing on 9 April, UK Defence Secretary John Healey stated that a Russian Navy Akula-class nuclear-powered submarine and two submarines of the Main Directorate of Deep-Sea Research (GUGI), had been operating in the UK’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) for weeks, tracked – but seemingly not prevented – by what remains of the UK Armed Forces.

Revealing details of military operations undertaken by Russia, Healey said that the mission had been undertaken in collaboration with Norway, which itself released a statement the same day detailing its participation.

Deploying a warship – later described as a frigate – and P-8 maritime patrol aircraft, alongside allies, Healey said UK forces “ensured Russian subs were monitored 24/7”, adding the “Russian sub”, referring to the Akula class, subsequently left UK EEZ.

It was not clear whether the GUGI submarines had left UK EEZ waters, with Healey providing contradictory response during the initial briefing and subsequent Q&A session with the media.

“We see you,” said Healey, referring to Russian President Vladimir Putin, stating there was no evidence that Russia’s undersea operation had caused any damage to UK subsurface critical national infrastructure (CNI).

“Were there to be any damage to our cables or pipelines, we would hold him responsible,” Healey added, without explaining how this would be achieved.

This satellite image is of Russian naval base Olenya in the High North, along with their spy ship Yantar and specialist GUGI submarines before they departed port for UK waters.

These vessels are designed to survey underwater critical infrastructure during peacetime, then… pic.twitter.com/q6Sv00BTAV