Britain’s undersea energy lifelines were secretly surveyed by Russia in a covert operation that has heightened fears of sabotage and espionage, defence sources have revealed.
A Russian submarine was discovered escorting Moscow’s intelligence-gathering vessel Yantar as it examined a gas pipeline linking Britain and Ireland last November, according to officials speaking to reports. The operation has raised serious concerns within Whitehall that Vladimir Putin’s forces are mapping critical UK infrastructure in preparation for potential future attacks.
The Yantar, which Russia describes as a “research ship”, was tracked as it sailed from the Kola Peninsula, past Norway and through the English Channel before entering the Irish Sea. While hovering above an exposed section of the gas connector near the Isle of Man, the vessel briefly activated its tracking beacon.
During the incident, the Royal Navy deployed one of its hunter-killer submarines to shadow the Russian activity. In a rare and deliberate show of force, the British submarine surfaced alongside the Yantar and transmitted a pointed message: “Thank you for allowing us to monitor your every move for the last few days.”
A newly declassified image obtained by the newspaper shows the British submarine on the surface alongside an anti-submarine Merlin helicopter during the encounter.
Defence sources say this was not an isolated incident. Russian submarines are believed to have entered waters around the British Isles on several occasions, operating alongside the Yantar during what officials describe as intelligence-gathering missions.
Last week, the head of the Royal Navy, General Sir Gwyn Jenkins, warned that Russia is investing heavily in its deep-sea submarine capability, operated by a secretive unit known as GUGI. He said the force gives Moscow the ability to carry out “physical action” against Britain and its allies.
Heightened alert
British warships and surveillance aircraft monitoring the Russian vessels were placed on high alert during the operation. Sailors were reportedly ordered not to use mobile phones and instructed to communicate only through encrypted channels to prevent interception.
After the British submarine surfaced, specialist divers were deployed to inspect the pipeline and confirm that no explosive devices had been attached.
Military chiefs fear Russia could place explosives on underwater cables and pipelines, to be detonated during a future conflict. Defence Secretary John Healey confirmed in January that a British submarine had tracked the Yantar, but the presence of a Russian submarine during the same mission has only now come to light.
Senior defence figures believe Russia is intensifying so-called “grey-zone” operations in British and Irish waters as its freedom of movement in the Baltic and Mediterranean becomes increasingly restricted. Finland and Sweden joining NATO has further limited Russian access to the Baltic Sea.
There is also concern that Ireland’s neutrality is being exploited to allow Russian activity closer to UK territory. Ireland is not a NATO member and spends less on defence than most European nations.
Three senior British officials told The Sunday Times that Ireland is viewed as a “soft underbelly” vulnerable to Russian interference.
Sabotage fears
Naval patrols in the Irish Sea have increased sharply as intelligence suggests Russia is systematically mapping gas pipelines, electricity cables and internet connections on the seabed. While no infrastructure has yet been damaged, reports indicate detailed sabotage plans may already exist.
Spy agencies have even received information suggesting fishermen in Wexford, in southeast Ireland, were offered money to drag metal-cutting equipment across specific sections of the sea floor.
Russia is also believed to be gathering intelligence on Britain’s submarine fleet, which operates from Faslane on the Clyde. The UK’s submarine construction yards at Barrow-in-Furness are currently building four Dreadnought-class nuclear submarines, as well as 12 new hunter-killer submarines under the Aukus defence pact with the United States and Australia.
European military officials believe the Yantar and similar vessels are not only mapping infrastructure but also intercepting communications to assess how NATO responds to provocation. Its advanced eavesdropping equipment makes it difficult to track without revealing sensitive British capabilities.
A senior Irish military intelligence officer said: “We were aware of its planned arrival long before it entered our area of responsibility. Once it crossed into Irish waters, we observed a change in crew behaviour and the mounting of weapons.”
Although the Yantar is capable of launching mini-submarines through a “moon pool” beneath its hull, defence sources are confident none were deployed during the operation. However, Irish authorities were later warned that an attack on the gas connector during winter could cause rolling blackouts and severe economic disruption.
Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin said there was “deep co-operation” with the UK and EU partners on the issue, adding: “One has to be very vigilant and strengthen resilience in respect of critical undersea infrastructure because our society and modern economy depend on that.”
He pointed to suspected Russian sabotage in the Baltic Sea and hybrid attacks across Europe, including arson and the use of criminal proxies.
Government response
Russia’s undersea operations are directed by GUGI, which controls a fleet of around 50 specialist vessels. Britain imposed sanctions on the unit last June. Russia’s capabilities include the Belgorod submarine, which can deploy the deep-diving Losharik mini-sub, and next-generation vessels such as the Sergei Bavilin, capable of diving to depths of 11,000 metres.
The Ministry of Defence said: “Our message to President Putin is clear: we see you, we know what you are doing, and we will not shy away from robust action to protect this country.”
The Government has established a new Undersea Infrastructure Security Oversight Board within the Cabinet Office to coordinate protection of subsea cables and pipelines. Emergency plans are also being updated to address the risk of coordinated Russian attacks, and ministers are considering purchasing a British cable-repair ship to respond during a crisis.
Matt Western, chair of the Joint Committee on the National Security Strategy, welcomed the steps but warned time may be running out.
“The security situation with Russia could worsen faster than our ability to prepare,” he said. “Once-unthinkable events are becoming more likely. We must move quickly.”
