- Defence Secretary John Healey issued a stark warning to Vladimir Putin, saying that any attempt to damage UK cables and pipelines would have “serious consequences”.
- The warning followed “increased Russian activity” in the Atlantic, where UK and allied forces monitored an Akula-class nuclear submarine and two specialist Gugi submarines for a month.
- Mr Healey revealed that the Akula submarine likely acted as a decoy while the Gugi vessels operated over critical infrastructure, but their covert operation was exposed and deterred.
- British forces tracked the Russian submarines 24/7 with a Royal Navy warship and RAF P8 aircraft, ensuring they were aware their movements were not secret before they retreated from UK waters.
- This incident comes as the UK also targets Russia's "shadow fleet" of oil tankers, with British forces now authorised to board and halt sanctioned vessels in UK waters to cut off funding for Moscow's war in Ukraine.
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