The UK has shown off its military assets that are being used to watch and stop Russian submarines that are thought to be going after important underwater infrastructure including communication cables and energy pipelines.
British defense sources say that the operation, which was done with friends like Norway, lasted for more than a month in the North Atlantic and nearby waterways. During that time, a Russian assault submarine and two specialist espionage submarines were extensively watched after being spotted near important undersea cables.
John Healey, the UK’s Secretary of Defense, said that the deployment included Royal Navy vessels, surveillance planes, and hundreds of people, all to stop any possible sabotage. Western authorities think that Russia’s deep-sea research units, which are connected to the submarines, can mess with underwater infrastructure.
The ships didn’t go into UK territorial seas, but they did operate in Britain’s Exclusive Economic Zone, which raised major security concerns. Officials said that little damage was done, but they made it apparent that the operation was meant to send a strong message to Moscow.
Healey stated that the UK intended to send a clear message to Russian President Vladimir Putin that these kinds of secret actions would be found out and stopped. “We see what you’re doing,” he stated, and warned that any attempt to disrupt important infrastructure would have “serious consequences.”
The event happened at a time when tensions between Russia and Western countries are rising. There are also growing fears that underwater cables that transmit most of the world’s internet and financial data could become targets in future wars.
British officials said they are still on high alert and ready to do more to defend important infrastructure and keep NATO seas safe.
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