Russian Spy Devices Secretly Planted Around UK To Track Nuclear Submarines

A recent investigation has revealed that Russian spy sensors may have been secretly placed in the seas around the United Kingdom to track the movements of British nuclear submarines.

The sensors are believed to be targeting the Royal Navy’s Vanguard-class submarines, which carry the UK’s nuclear missiles. These submarines are part of Britain’s continuous-at-sea deterrent, with at least one vessel on patrol at all times.

The stealth of these submarines is critical for national security, making any attempt to monitor them a major threat.

Russia’s ambassador to the UK, Andrei Kelin, did not deny the existence of the sensors during a recent appearance on BBC One. When asked if he objected to the claims, Kelin replied, “No.” He added, “I am not going to deny it, but I wonder whether we really have an interest in following all the British submarines with very old outdated nuclear warheads.”

However, he dismissed the idea that Russia posed any threat to the UK, calling the concerns “extremely exaggerated.”

The presence of these suspected devices was first reported by the Sunday Times, which stated that the British military had found them and see them as a potential national security threat.

According to the report, these sensors may be part of Russia’s “grey zone” warfare strategy, which is a form of conflict that includes covert operations without direct military confrontation.

This can involve targeting critical infrastructure like underwater energy pipelines, power cables, and internet networks.

UK Defence Secretary John Healey previously confirmed that the Royal Navy had tracked Russian warships near British waters, including one named Boikiy.

Another vessel, the Yantar, was observed near undersea infrastructure and is believed to be a spy ship used for intelligence gathering.

The Ministry of Defense has said that activities like these will not be allowed to go unnoticed and promised to defend the UK’s underwater assets.

Meanwhile, former defence minister Tobias Ellwood warned that the UK is falling behind in monitoring Russia’s deep-sea activities. He claimed that Russia has built remote seabed platforms off the UK coast, which serve as charging stations for mini-submarines.

These submarines are believed to be mapping undersea cable networks, which are vital for both national and global communication.

A senior British official told The Sunday Times, “There should be no doubt, there is a war raging in the Atlantic.” Military sources believe that Russia is using its deep-sea research division, known as the Main Directorate of Deep-Sea Research (GUGI), to carry out these operations.

GUGI operates a fleet of ultra-deep diving, nuclear-powered mini submarines, designed to tap, cut, or destroy undersea cables and other infrastructure.

The UK has about 60 internet cables connecting it to other parts of the world, some of which are classified for security reasons.

Many of these cables carry important financial data, especially across the Atlantic. Any damage to them could cause major disruptions to global banking systems and Western financial markets.

Over the last 15 months, at least 11 underwater internet cables in the Baltic Sea have been damaged, often by ships dragging anchors. UK officials are increasingly concerned that these incidents could be a part of a coordinated sabotage effort by Russia.

There are even claims that superyachts owned by Russian oligarchs might be used to support these undersea missions, which could add more complexity to the ongoing investigations.

In response to these threats, the UK government is working on a new defence project called Cabot, in collaboration with private energy and technology companies.

The goal is to protect vital undersea infrastructure from future attacks. The Royal Navy has also added two new ships to its fleet, RFA Proteus and RFA Stirling Castle, to strengthen subsea monitoring and response capabilities.

Captain Simon Pressdee, a senior Royal Navy officer involved in the mission, told The Sunday Times that their job is to track and respond to threats, collect evidence, and ensure that those targeting the UK are held responsible.

The Ministry of Defence said it is committed to boosting the UK’s undersea defences using new technologies like artificial intelligence and conducting joint patrols with NATO and allied forces.

An MoD spokesperson confirmed, “We are strengthening our response to make sure Russian ships and aircraft cannot operate secretly near the UK or NATO territory.”

Reference: BBC,

Source: Maritime Shipping News