United Kingdom and Norway Uncovered Russian Submarine Operation

"In the last few weeks, while the eyes of many were trained on the Middle East, the UK – in partnership with Norway and other Allies – have responded to increased Russian activity in the Atlantic," said the British Minister of Defense John Healey (Labour) at a press conference on Thursday.

Initially, an Akula-class submarine from the Russian Northern Fleet was identified and tracked as it sailed into international waters in the High North from its base on the Kola Peninsula.

After continuous surveillance of the submarine, it was determined to have been used as a distraction, writes the British Ministry of Defense.

Around the same time, the allied forces identified and monitored two specialized submarines associated with Russia's Main Directorate for Deep-Sea Research (GUGI), which were conducting suspicious activity near critical undersea infrastructure in the North Atlantic.

"A reminder"

The GUGI submarines also operated out of the High North, more specifically, the naval base Olenya Guba, which is located north of Murmansk.

They are designed to survey infrastructure such as communication cables and energy pipelines in peacetime, and to conduct sabotage actions in times of conflict.

"This is a reminder that Russia is further developing its ability to map and sabotage Western critical infrastructure at great depths. Russia is thereby maintaining its ambition to threaten our and our allies' interests," said Norwegian Minister of Defense Tore O. Sandvik (Labor) in a statement.

Have returned to its bases

The allied surveillance operation involved two frigates and several P-8 maritime patrol aircraft from both the UK and Norway.

These forces made it clear to the Russian submarines that they were being watched and that their attempt at covert operations had been exposed.

The Akula-class submarine was the first to return to its base in the North. The GUGI submarines have followed suit, and the allied operation has been concluded, said Healey.

He also addressed a message directly to Russia and President Vladimir Putin:

"We see you, we see your activities over our cables and pipelines. And you should know that any attempt to damage them will not be tolerated and will have serious consequences."

Of great significance

 “The High North is no less vital to UK security today, than it was when the current conflict erupted in the Middle East,” the British defense minister also underlined.

Furthermore, he referred to the UK and Norway's new extensive defense agreement, Lunna House, and their strategic cooperation on the purchase and operation of  Type 26 frigates, which are specialized for anti-submarine warfare.

In February, Defense Minister Sandvik also announced that Norway, the UK, and Germany were to assume more responsibility for submarine hunting in the North in order to relieve the US.