In a recent statement, Defence Secretary John Healey revealed that a Royal Navy frigate, along with aircraft and hundreds of personnel, played a crucial role in monitoring Russian submarines in the waters north of the UK. The operation, which successfully tracked an attack submarine and two reconnaissance submarines, thwarted any potential “nefarious” activities planned by the Russian vessels.

After more than a month of diligent surveillance, the Russian submarines eventually retreated. While the UK acknowledged the assistance of allied nations in this mission, specific countries involved were not disclosed.

This heightened vigilance stems from ongoing concerns among NATO countries regarding Russia’s potential to disrupt underwater communications infrastructure. The fear is that Russia could exploit its fleet of spy ships to sabotage critical submarine cables that facilitate global connectivity. Despite these allegations, Russia has consistently dismissed such claims.

In a direct message to Russian President Vladimir Putin, Healey emphasized, “We are aware of your activities around our cables and pipelines. Be assured that any attempt to damage them will not be tolerated and will result in severe repercussions.”

Russia has dismissed those claims.

Healey said his message to Russian President Vladimir Putin was was “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”.

Norwegian Defence Minister Tore Sandvik said in a statement that Russia’s operation occurred in and near Norwegian and British maritime areas in recent weeks.

Norway and the UK said the activity was coordinated by Russia’s Main Directorate of Deep Sea Research, known as GUGI, which is part of Russian armed forces.

The activity is a reminder that Russia is further developing its abilities to map and sabotage critical Western infrastructure at ocean depths, Norway’s Defence Ministry said.

Healey said the subs are “designed to survey underwater infrastructure during peacetime and sabotage it in conflict”.

In November, Britain told Russia it was ready to deal with any incursion into its territory after the spy ship Yantar was detected on the edge of UK waters north of Scotland.

Healey said the submarine activity occurred in the UK’s exclusive economic zone, which extends for 200 nautical miles (370 kilometres) from shore, but not its narrower territorial waters.

British officials have tried to keep Russia in the international spotlight even as the world’s attention is focused on conflict in the Middle East. They have also stressed the overlap between conflicts there and in Ukraine, saying Russia has supplied Iran with drone parts and other support.

Healey told a news conference that “Putin would want us to be distracted by the Middle East,” but Russia is the main threat to the UK and its allies.

“We will not take our eyes off Putin,” he said.

In late March, the UK said its military was ready to seize ships suspected to be part of Russia’s “shadow fleet” of vessels shipping oil in violation of international sanctions over Moscow’s war on Ukraine.

Previously, Britain had only helped France and the US monitor ships before they were boarded.

“We are ready to take action” against the vessels, Healey said.

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