UK armed forces were deployed to track and deter "malign activity" by Russian submarines in a massive month-long operation, Defence Secretary John Healey has announced.
British aircraft and warships identified a Russian attack submarine entering international waters in the High North several weeks ago, and tracked its activity around the clock. UK and allies monitored a Russian attack submarine and two spy submarines in the North Atlantic for a month before they retreated.
Keir Starmer said the UK "will not shy away from taking action" against Russia. And in a direct message to Vladimir Putin, Mr Healey said: "We see you. We see your activity over our cables and our pipelines."
An undersea network of cables and pipelines are vital to the UK, carrying 99% of international telecoms and data traffic, as well as half the gas that heats our homes. There is no evidence any damage has been done to the cables or pipelines.
The operation lasted more than a month and has now concluded. More than 5,000 British personnel were involved in the response.
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The Prime Minister said: "I am determined to protect the British people from paying the price for Putin’s aggression in their household bills. That is why we will not shy away from taking action and exposing Russia’s destabilising activity that seeks to test our resolve.
"Our Armed Forces are among the best in the world, and the British public should be in no doubt that this government will do whatever it takes to defend our national and economic security, wherever in the world that is needed."
The UK is stepping up on its commitment to protect our critical underwater infrastructure. This includes an additional £100 million to support our vital P8 submarine hunting aircraft.
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