UK and Norway Track Russian Submarines Targeting Undersea Infrastructure in North Atlantic

Britain's Secretary of State for Defence John Healey announced on Thursday that the United Kingdom and Norway led a month-long covert operation to track and deter three Russian submarines conducting what he described as "malign activity" near undersea cables and pipelines north of the United Kingdom. Healey said the operation involved a Royal Navy frigate, aircraft, and hundreds of military personnel who monitored the Russian vessels throughout the operation. The submarines included a Russian Akula-class attack submarine and two specialized spy submarines belonging to Russia's Main Directorate for Deep-Sea Research. The Russian vessels were operating within the United Kingdom's exclusive economic zone, though not in its territorial waters, and no damage to any cable or pipeline was reported. The submarines eventually departed the area and headed north after the operation concluded.

Healey warns Putin directly: "We see you" Healey used the announcement to deliver a pointed public warning to Russian President Vladimir Putin, making clear that the operation had been deliberately disclosed to signal that Russia's submarine movements had been detected. He stated that the Russian vessels believed their mission to be covert, but British and Norwegian forces had tracked them throughout.

„We are watching your activity over our cables and pipelines and you should know that any attempt to damage them will not be tolerated and will have serious consequences.” — John Healey via Reuters

Healey also addressed the broader strategic context, arguing that Russia's ambitions in the North Atlantic should not be overshadowed by events in the Middle East.

„Putin would like us to be distracted by the Middle East.” — John Healey via SIC Notícias

He described Russia as the primary threat to the United Kingdom and its allies, and said British armed forces made clear to the Russian crews that their movements had been observed. The minister declined to specify which cables or pipelines were at risk, but confirmed that none had been damaged during the operation.

Shadow fleet boarding powers spark Russian military escort response The submarine operation was not the only front in the escalating confrontation between London and Moscow. In late March 2026, Prime Minister Keir Starmer authorized the Royal Navy to board vessels from the Russian shadow fleet that crossed British territorial waters. According to reporting by The Daily Telegraph cited in El País, Russia responded by sending military vessels to escort its sanctioned oil tankers through the English Channel. The Russian frigate Admiral Grigorovich, from the Black Sea fleet and equipped with anti-ship missiles, was spotted sailing between two tankers identified as Universal and Enigma. Kremlin Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov, responding to questions about the frigate's presence, framed the escort as a defensive measure against what he called piracy in international waters.

„During the last few months, we have witnessed repeated incidents of piracy in international waters. These incidents of piracy, among other consequences, have damaged the economic interests of the Russian Federation.” — Dmitry Peskov via Reuters

According to the British government, nearly 75 (%) — share of Russian crude oil transported via shadow fleet network of Russian crude oil moves through this network, and the United Kingdom has imposed sanctions on 544 (vessels) — number of shadow fleet ships sanctioned by the UK vessels connected to it.

Russia-Iran link drawn as London keeps pressure on Moscow Healey used Thursday's announcement to draw an explicit connection between Russia's activities in the North Atlantic and the broader conflict landscape in the Middle East and Ukraine. British officials have sought to maintain international focus on Russia even as global attention has shifted toward the ongoing US-Israel military operation against Iran. Healey alleged that Russia has supplied Iran with drone parts and other forms of support, arguing that the two conflicts are interlinked.

„The way Russia attacks Ukraine is the way Iran attacks its allies.” — John Healey via La Vanguardia

The British government has previously highlighted the overlap between Russian and Iranian military tactics, particularly the use of drones. Healey's statement came as British officials expressed concern that the war in the Middle East could reduce Western resolve on Ukraine-related issues. The disclosure of the submarine operation, officials indicated, was itself a deliberate act of deterrence — intended to demonstrate that British and allied surveillance capabilities remain active and effective across multiple theaters simultaneously.

Concerns about Russian sabotage of undersea infrastructure in the North Atlantic have grown significantly since 2022, when the Nord Stream gas pipelines were damaged in the Baltic Sea. European governments have repeatedly warned that cables and pipelines connecting the UK, Scandinavia, and continental Europe represent critical and vulnerable infrastructure. The UK and Norway have historically cooperated closely on North Atlantic security through NATO frameworks, given their shared maritime borders with strategically important waters.