Three Russian submarines reportedly attempted to spy on critical underwater cables and pipelines near UK waters while global attention focused on Iran, Defence Secretary John Healey disclosed on Thursday. Healey said the operation involved an Akula-class submarine and two specialized vessels from Russia’s Main Directorate for Deep-Sea Research (Gugi), which were tracked by a Royal Navy warship and a P-8 reconnaissance aircraft.
Speaking at Downing Street, Healey directly addressed President Vladimir Putin, warning: “We see you, we see your activity over our cables and pipelines and any attempt to damage them will not be tolerated.” He outlined a month-long campaign in which 500 personnel monitored the submarines until they exited UK waters, marking the first time the Ministry of Defence publicly released photographs of the Gugi vessels’ home base.
Healey described the Akula-class submarine as a “likely decoy” while the Gugi vessels focused on areas above the UK’s critical infrastructure. The operation included the deployment of sonar buoys by the UK and its allies to signal surveillance and deter any interference with the cables. “I am confident we have no evidence they have been damaged,” Healey added, underscoring the UK’s ability to safeguard its strategic underwater networks during this covert challenge.
