The UK has issued a stark warning to Russia after the British military tracked Russian submarines surveying vital undersea infrastructure near the UK for a month
Britain today delivered a stern warning to Russia after the British military exposed a Russian submarine mission to map critical undersea infrastructure close to UK waters.
Ambassador Neil Holland cautioned Putin “you cannot operate in secret” during a speech in Vienna on Thursday. Holland serves as Head of the UK Delegation to the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) in the Austrian capital.
He was speaking today on behalf of the UK, Norway and the Netherlands after it emerged the UK and its allies tracked a Russian attack submarine and two spy submarines in the North Atlantic for a full month before they withdrew.
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Holland addressed the update delivered by Defence Secretary John Healey on April 9 regarding Russia’s activity in the Atlantic. The month-long covert operation involved a Russian Akula-class attack submarine and two spy submarines, all of which have since retreated. Two of the vessels belonged to the Main Directorate of Deep Sea Research (known as GUGI).
GUGI is Russia’s long-established military programme designed to develop capabilities deployable from specialist surface vessels and submarines. During peacetime, these are used to survey underwater infrastructure, with the intention of damaging or destroying such infrastructure should conflict arise.
Holland revealed the vessels were instructed by Russia to “conduct hybrid warfare activities against the UK and its Allies, specifically around Critical Undersea Infrastructure” – the vast hidden network of seafloor cables that keeps the internet, data sharing and financial transactions functioning.
He went on to say the vessels are “designed to survey underwater infrastructure during peacetime, and be prepared to sabotage it in conflict”. In response to the incident, he confirmed the UK deployed Armed Forces to “track and deter any malign activity by these vessels”, reports the Express.
Holland rounded off his statement with an unequivocal warning to Russia. He said: “Our message to Russia is this: you cannot operate in secret. We are ready to meet the increased threat in the North Atlantic.
“The UK and our Allies are ready to respond to any threat to our Critical Undersea Infrastructure. And any attempt to damage our Critical Undersea Infrastructure would have serious consequences.”
Earlier, Healey stated: “As we act to defend our interests and Allies in the Middle East, we are tackling increasing threats to NATO in the High North, maintaining strong support for Ukraine and protecting our UK homeland.
“To Putin, I say this: we see you, we see your activity over our underwater infrastructure. You should know that any attempt to damage it will not be tolerated and would have serious consequences.”
