UK: Royal Navy Shadowed Russian Submarines for Weeks to Foil Cable Sabotage

Britain has disclosed a sustained operation to track and deter Russian submarines near critical undersea infrastructure, the UK Ministry of Defence announced Thursday.

UK Defense Secretary John Healey said Russian vessels, including an Akula-class attack submarine and two specialist units linked to Moscow’s Main Directorate for Deep Sea Research (GUGI), operated in and around UK waters for more than one month in early 2026.

“To President Putin, I say ‘We see you… and you should know that any attempt to damage them will not be tolerated,’” Healey stated, adding the aim of public disclosure was to signal that the activity had been identified and exposed.

“Our armed forces left them in no doubt that they were being monitored,” he said, noting the submarines have since “retreated.”

In response, Britain deployed a Royal Navy frigate, a support tanker, and a Royal Air Force P-8 maritime patrol aircraft to track the submarines. Norway contributed additional assets, including a P-8 aircraft and a frigate, according to its defense ministry.

UK officials said the submarines remained in the country’s Exclusive Economic Zone and allied waters but did not enter territorial waters.

The operation maintained continuous monitoring, with British forces tracking movements “24/7” until the vessels withdrew.

Healey said the submarines are designed to “survey underwater infrastructure during peacetime, and sabotage it in conflict,” underscoring concerns about dual-use naval capabilities.

The activity took place in the High North maritime region, a strategic area hosting key shipping routes and infrastructure such as telecom cables, power lines, and energy pipelines.

Officials accused Russia of attempting to exploit global distractions, including Middle East conflicts, to conduct covert operations in the region.

The disclosure comes amid heightened NATO vigilance following multiple infrastructure incidents since 2022, when Russia invaded Ukraine. While most outages have been linked to civilian vessels dragging anchors, concerns over deliberate sabotage still persist.

Healey also referenced recent criticism of UK naval capacity, emphasizing resource prioritization: “The greatest threats are often unseen and silent.”