Russia has carried out a covert underwater operation targeting vital energy and communication lines in British waters.
Medianews.az reports that this was stated by the United Kingdom’s Defense Secretary, John Healey.
According to the minister, British military forces monitored a Russian attack-type nuclear submarine and two intelligence ships in the North Sea for a month. It is reported that the submarine and ships approached cables and pipeline lines running along the seabed.
John Healey noted that the British Navy emitted signals near the submarine and ships to prevent it. The aim was to show that the activity was being monitored and to prevent a possible provocation.
The minister emphasized that the discussion involves underwater cables that transfer large volumes of data between countries and are critical from a communication perspective.
Official London has directly warned Russian President Vladimir Putin over this activity. John Healey said that any intervention against such infrastructure “will lead to serious consequences.”
According to him, the submarine used in the observed operation was intended to distract attention, while the other two ships operated within a deep-sea research program linked to Russia’s Ministry of Defense.
The British side states that no evidence of damage to the pipelines and cables has been recorded so far, but the matter is being investigated together with allies.
The minister also noted that the incident shows that the Russian threat continues. According to John Healey, despite international attention being directed towards events in the Middle East, Moscow remains one of the main risks for Europe.
A day earlier, media reported that a Russian military ship accompanied two sanctioned oil tankers in the English Channel. This move is considered a response to the UK’s pressures on Russia’s “shadow fleet.”
London believes that the applied measures make it difficult for Russia to finance the war and especially weaken the economic foundations of the war it is waging against Ukraine.