It is alleged that Russia attempted to track nuclear submarines with sensors in UK territorial waters. Some sensors washed ashore, while others were detected by the navy.

Accusations have surfaced claiming that Russia placed sensors in UK waters to engage in espionage activities targeting nuclear submarines of the British Navy. According to a report titled “Putin’s Secret War in UK Waters” by The Sunday Times, the discovery by the British military was considered a threat to national security and has not been disclosed to the public before. The report indicates that while some of these sensors washed up on the shore, the locations of others were identified by the Royal Navy. It is believed that these devices were deployed to gather intelligence on four Vanguard submarines owned by the UK and carrying nuclear missiles. One of these submarines is always present at sea for “continuous deterrence,” yet the exact locations of the sensors were not disclosed in detail by the newspaper.

“A SPACE RACE LIKE THE COLD WAR ERA” In a three-month investigation, The Times spoke with several ex-defense ministers, senior armed forces personnel, and military experts. The intent of this study was to reveal how Russia employed its submarine warfare capacity to map, hack, and potentially sabotage critical British infrastructure. The report mentioned that senior military figures likened this techno-struggle for superiority to the space race of the Cold War era. PUTIN, NORD STREAM, AND THE “GREY ZONE” DOCTRINE According to unnamed sources from the Royal Navy mentioned in the report, Russia has continually invested in activities involving submarine patrols even after the end of the Cold War. As per their account, Russia holds the distinction of having a special submarine fleet dedicated to subsea warfare and espionage. It is believed that some of these submarines possess higher capabilities than those of the UK and NATO countries.

The report suggests that activities surrounding monitoring and potential sabotage of submarine internet connections, energy pipelines, and cables used for military purposes hint at Russia preparing for broader conflicts with NATO even before the onset of the war in Ukraine. All such activities are rooted in Russian President Vladimir Putin’s “grey zone” doctrine. Sources from the Royal Navy referenced a 2022 incident involving the explosion of the Nord Stream gas pipeline, pointing at it as a manifestation of a Kremlin-led grey zone operation with military sensitivities. THE BRITISH NAVY MONITORS YANTAR As per disclosed findings, Russia’s submarine research program largely falls under the Deep Sea Research General Directorate (Gugi). One prominent spy ship is Yantar, which had been sighted off the UK coast last year. Yantar hosts unmanned aerial vehicles and two small submarines capable of reaching depths of 6,000 meters. These devices allow the ship to map and cut cables, or eavesdrop for gathering information. In November, Yantar was sighted close to the data cables used by Microsoft and Google in the Irish Sea. A defense source revealed that an array of tools and devices including the British Proteus had been sent to monitor this ship.

As Yantar was making its way back to the English Channel in January, Britain’s Defense Secretary John Healey instructed ships, HMS Somerset and HMS Tyne, to keep a closer eye on Yantar. The nuclear submarine HMS Astute continued to secretly track the vessel from beneath. “THE GUGI THREAT BEGINS WHERE THE CONTINENTAL SHELF ENDS” The real challenge for the UK does not lie with Yantar, according to the report. The waters surrounding the UK largely fall within the European continental shelf, indicating depths of no more than 300 meters. Although the Navy has means to monitor activities in these areas, the depths plummet to thousands of meters where the Gugi and its six small nuclear submarines pose a potential threat. These “mini-subs” are capable of settling at the seabed, cutting cables, placing explosives, or conducting operations over fiber optic cables for hacking. Before the Russia-Ukraine conflict, suspicions emerged that super yachts owned by Russian oligarchs were conducting surveillance around the UK.

“NAVY FOUND NUMEROUS SENSORS” The Sunday Times’ investigation revealed that the British Navy also discovered numerous sensor devices in the waters surrounding the UK. The Ministry of Defense believes these were placed by Moscow to monitor the movements of the UK’s four Vanguard nuclear submarines. While the specifics of the sensors remain unclear, it was mentioned that some washed ashore while others were detected using Navy minesweepers. The Ministry conveyed that through search efforts, additional sensors were identified.

Information regarding any other Russian activities found by the UK remains classified as “secret intelligence.” A high-ranking British source stated, “It’s almost like a space race… It’s a world shrouded in secrecy and deception; gaining clarity is extremely difficult. But there’s enough smoke to suggest some things are smoldering.”