UK says Russia ran submarine operation over cables and pipelines

UK Accuses Russia of Submarine Activity Threatening Cables and Pipelines

Defence Secretary John Healey revealed that Russian submarines had executed a covert mission targeting UK cables and pipelines in the Atlantic, north of British waters. He emphasized that the operation was “malign” and that the UK’s military forces were deployed to counter it, with no damage reported to the nation’s critical infrastructure. “We see you,” Healey stated, addressing Russian President Vladimir Putin directly. “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.”

Undersea Infrastructure at Risk

The UK depends heavily on its undersea cables and pipelines for data and energy supply. Approximately 60 cables connect to the UK coastline, with significant concentrations in East Anglia and the South West. Over 90% of the country’s daily internet traffic traverses these cables, highlighting their strategic importance. Additionally, the nation relies on a network of gas pipelines in the North Sea, which deliver essential energy from the UK and Norwegian Continental Shelves. One key example is the 724-mile-long Langeled pipeline between Norway and the UK, where about 77% of gas imports arrive via subsea routes.

Submarine Deployment and Monitoring

During the incident, Russia deployed an Akula-class submarine as a distraction, while two Guggi-class vessels carried out surveillance. Healey noted that the first Akula submarine departed UK waters after being tracked, returning to Russian territory. Meanwhile, the two Guggi submarines remained operational. The Royal Navy responded by dispatching a Type 23 frigate, HMS St Albans, the RFA Tidespring, and Merlin helicopters to monitor all three submarines. Norway was also involved in tracking the activity, though Healey specifically named it.

“Our armed forces left [Russia] 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,” Healey said. “We watched them, we were able to track them, we dropped sonar buoys to demonstrate to them that we were monitoring every hour of their operation.”

Hybrid Warfare and Strategic Intent

According to BBC InDepth, Russia has been engaged in “hybrid warfare” against the UK and Western Europe since 2025. This strategy aims to punish or deter continued military support for Ukraine by conducting anonymous, deniable attacks in ambiguous circumstances. Healey suggested that Putin’s operations were designed to exploit global attention on conflicts in the Middle East. He reiterated that Russia remains the “primary threat” to UK security, though he expressed confidence in the nation’s ability to detect and respond to future covert actions.