UK and Allies Unmask Covert Russian Sub Ops Near British Waters

Britain and its allies publicly exposed a covert Russian submarine operation near UK waters, saying an attack submarine briefly entered international waters in the High North as a distraction before Russian vessels from GUGI, including an Akula-class submarine, retreated after being tracked 24/7 by the Royal Navy (Type 23 frigate HMS St Albans), RFA Tideforce, Merlin helicopters, and RAF P-8 aircraft with ally support such as Norway. The incident highlights rising Russian threats to underwater infrastructure, including subsea cables, and the government’s pledge to defend them. It also notes a large defence spending push (e.g., £100m for P-8s and the Atlantic Bastion programme) and continued monitoring of Russian activity near UK waters.