UK points stark warning to Putin over Russian spy submarines detected in North Atlantic | EUROtoday

The defence secretary has issued a stark warning to Vladimir Putin after Russian assault and spy submarines had been discovered working within the North Atlantic.

John Healey informed a press convention in Downing Street on Thursday that previously few weeks, whereas many eyes had been skilled on the Middle East disaster, the UK responded to “increased Russian activity” within the Atlantic north of the UK.

He revealed that the UK and allies monitored the vessels – which included a Russian Akula-class nuclear-powered assault submarine and two specialist submarines from Russia’s ministry of defence deep sea analysis programme generally known as Gugi – for a month earlier than they retreated.

Addressing Putin immediately, Mr Healey mentioned: “We see your activity over our cables and our pipelines, and you should know that any attempt to damage them will not be tolerated and will have serious consequences.”

It comes after the Telegraph reported that Russia despatched a warship to escort sanctioned oil tankers via the English channel, following Sir Keir Starmer’s warning that sanctioned vessels crusing in British waters could be seized.

Black Sea fleet frigate Admiral Grigorovich is alleged to have accompanied a pair of shadow fleet ships on Wednesday, which had been adopted by a British naval vessel.

According to the newspaper, the vessel noticed the flotilla off England’s south coast whereas RFA Tideforce, a Royal Fleet Auxiliary tanker, was of their wake.

Mr Healey mentioned: “In response to the Russian submarines, I can confirm that I deployed our armed forces to track and to deter any malign activity by these vessels.

“A Royal Navy warship and Royal Air Force P8 aircraft alongside allies ensured that the Russian submarines were monitored 24/7.

“The Akula submarine subsequently retreated home, having been closely tracked throughout and we continued to monitor the two Gugi submarines in and around wider UK waters.

“Our armed forces left them in no doubt that they were being monitored, that their movements were not covert, as President Putin planned, and that their attempted secret operation had been exposed.

“Those Gugi submarines have now left UK waters and headed back north.”

The defence secretary mentioned the assault submarine acted as “a likely decoy” to distract us from the Gugi submarines as they “spent time over critical infrastructure relevant to us and our allies in the North Atlantic”.

He continued: “Because we were watching them, we wanted to ensure that we could warn them that their covert operation had been exposed and reduce the risk that they may attempt any action that could damage our pipelines or our cables.

“And I’m confident, we have no evidence that there has been any damage, but with allies, were sure that this is now verifiable.”

Undersea cables, that are accountable for ninety-nine p.c of the world’s digital communications, are important for commerce, authorities and navy features as a result of they securely transport messages and knowledge. Any injury to Britain’s undersea cables might trigger severe political and financial disruption.

It comes after the prime minister final month mentioned that the Navy will intercept Russia’s shadow fleet. The armed forces and British legislation enforcement at the moment are capable of board and halt sanctioned vessels which can be passing via UK waters.

Sir Keir’s announcement got here along with European allies in an try to chop off funding for Moscow’s struggle with Ukraine.

It is known that Russia’s shadow fleet consists of roughly 700 vessels, carrying round 40 per cent of all Russian oil exports. The UK has sanctioned 544 Russian shadow fleet vessels so far.

They illicitly ship oil and different items out of Russia by flying the flags of different nations, with the purpose of evading sanctions imposed by the West for the reason that invasion of Ukraine started.

Sir Keir gave approval for British forces to start seizing Russian shadow fleet tankers on 26 March.

Closing off British waters to the shadow fleet is aimed toward forcing the Russian vessels into taking longer, extra expensive sea routes, or danger being intercepted by the UK.

Sir Keir mentioned: “We are living in an increasingly volatile and dangerous world, facing threats from different fronts across the world every day.

“As prime minister, my first duty is to keep this country safe and protect British interests here and abroad.

“Putin is rubbing his hands at the war in the Middle East because he thinks higher oil prices will let him line his pockets.

“That’s why we’re going after his shadow fleet even harder, not just keeping Britain safe but starving Putin’s war machine of the dirty profits that fund his barbaric campaign in Ukraine.

“He and his cronies should be in no doubt, we will always defend our sovereignty and stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes.”

British forces have already been concerned in monitoring shadow fleet vessels for a number of years, and have supported operations by different nations to grab the ships.