UK Reveals Month-Long Russian Submarine Operation Targeting Undersea Cables; 500 Personnel Deployed

UK Defence Secretary John Healey disclosed that Britain tracked a month-long covert operation by a Russian Akula-class attack submarine and two GUGI deep-sea surveillance vessels near undersea cables and pipelines in the High North. The Akula likely served as a decoy while GUGI boats surveyed infrastructure. Some 500 military personnel, multiple Royal Navy ships, and RAF aircraft flying 450+ hours were involved in tracking every mile of the deployment, with Norwegian support. No damage to cables was reported. Healey warned Moscow of "serious consequences."