UK foiled Russian submarines operation

Britain on Thursday accused Russia of conducting covert attack submarine operations in and around its waters, which it said had been successfully repelled by its armed forces.

The Ministry of Defence claimed British aircraft and warships identified a Russian attack submarine entering international waters in the High North several weeks ago and tracked its activity around the clock. 

The operation in the North Atlantic was said to have been part of a “Russian bluff”, while other specialist vessels conducted “nefarious activity” near critical underwater infrastructure. “I am determined to protect the British people from paying the price for Putin’s aggression in their household bills,” said Prime Minister Keir Starmer. 

“That is why we will not shy away from taking action and exposing Russia’s destabilising activity that seeks to test our resolve.  

“Our Armed Forces are among the best in the world, and the British public should be in no doubt that this government will do whatever it takes to defend our national and economic security, wherever in the world that is needed,” he said.

According to the ministry, service personnel quickly established that the submarine was deployed as a distraction and worked closely with allies – including Norway – to identify and monitor other Russian undersea naval units from the Main Directorate of Deep-Sea Research conducting nefarious activity over critical infrastructure elsewhere. 

“While the eyes of many – understandably – were on West Asia, our British Armed Forces were simultaneously responding to rising Russian threats north of the UK,” said Defence Secretary John Healey.