UK says Russia ran submarine operation over cables and pipelines
UK says Russia ran submarine operation over cables and pipelines
Defence Secretary John Healey announced that Russian submarines had carried out a covert mission targeting undersea cables and energy pipelines in the North Sea region. British naval and aerial assets were deployed to monitor the activity, and no damage to UK infrastructure in the Atlantic was detected, he stated.
“We see you. 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,” Healey said during a Downing Street press conference.
The UK relies heavily on its undersea cables for data transmission and energy supply. Approximately 60 of these cables terminate along the UK coastline, with significant concentrations in East Anglia and South West England. Over 90% of daily internet traffic passes through these vital connections.
Healey explained that Russia had used an Akula-class submarine as a distraction while two Guggi-class vessels conducted surveillance. The first Akula was observed exiting UK waters shortly after being tracked, while the two Guggi subs remained in the area. To monitor the operation, the Royal Navy mobilized a Type 23 frigate, HMS St Albans, the RFA Tidespring, and Merlin helicopters.
Additional nations assisted in tracking the Russian activity, though Healey specifically cited Norway. He emphasized that the UK’s forces made it clear the submarines were under observation, exposing their movements and dismantling Putin’s plan for secrecy. “We watched them, we were able to track them, and we dropped sonar buoys to demonstrate that we were monitoring every hour of their operation,” he added.
Global Significance of Undersea Infrastructure
Undersea cables and pipelines are crucial for global connectivity and energy distribution. Over 600 such cables span 870,000 miles (1.4 million km) worldwide, transporting electricity and data across oceans. The UK’s energy network depends on underwater gas pipelines, particularly in the North Sea, including the 724-mile-long (1,166km) Langeled pipeline linking Norway and the UK.
About 77% of the UK’s gas imports originate from Norway through these subsea routes. BBC InDepth revealed in 2025 that Russia had been engaging in hybrid warfare against the UK and Western Europe, aiming to punish or deter continued military support for Ukraine. This strategy involves anonymous, deniable attacks in suspicious circumstances without direct attribution to war.
The Russian embassy had earlier claimed it was “not interested in British underwater communications,” contradicting recent claims of covert operations. Healey stressed that Russia still represents a primary security threat to the UK, confident in the nation’s ability to detect and counter future attempts to undermine critical infrastructure.
