A Russian Akula-class submarine (archive image): Great Britain observed such a submarine in the North Atlantic.Image: www.imago-images.de
Suspicious Russian submarine activity has been reported around cables and pipelines in the North Atlantic. The British Defense Minister addresses Putin directly.
Apr 9, 2026, 8:06 p.mApr 9, 2026, 8:06 p.m
Simon Cleven / t-online
According to Defense Secretary John Healey, the British Navy has observed “increased Russian activity” in the North Atlantic in recent weeks. Together with allies, including Norway, the UK has a Russian Akula-class attack submarine and two spy submarines from the Russian Central Deep Sea Research Administration (GUGI). tracked and observed for a month, Healey said at a press conference in Westminster.
The three submarines, which were reportedly circling near submarine cables, have since withdrawn. The British operation was over. The submarines were tracked to “prevent any malicious activity on their part,” explained Healey. A Royal Navy warship and a Royal Air Force aircraft, together with allies, monitored the Russian submarines “around the clock”.
Cable and pipeline activities
Healey sent a direct warning to Russian President Vladimir Putin: “We are keeping an eye on you. We are monitoring your activities on our cables and pipelines, and you should know that any attempt to damage them will not be tolerated and will have serious consequences.” There was initially no statement from the government in Moscow.
Incidents with Russian submarines and ships occur again and again. With ships from the so-called shadow fleet, Russia is also trying to circumvent the sanctions imposed by its Western allies during the war in Ukraine. The ships are often stopped and checked. In the past, they were also suspected of intentionally damaging cables laid on the seabed.
A HMS Westminster frigate of the Royal Navy (archive photo): Among other things, the British used a warship to pursue Russian submarines.Image: www.imago-images.de
Russia uses warships to protect its shadow fleet
Russia will take measures to protect its interests, including using warships, said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, according to the Russian agency Interfax. Russia had previously announced that its oil tankers would be accompanied and protected by the Navy if there was a risk of them being confiscated by other countries.
“In recent months we have witnessed repeated cases of piracy in international waters”said Peskov. Accordingly, “these cases of piracy have, among other things, damaged the economic interests of the Russian Federation.” The Kremlin spokesman was responding to reports from the London media that the Russian navy had escorted two tankers off the British coast.