Russia is spying on four British submarines with nuclear capabilities as part of wider warfare preparations as it aims to gain an advantage over its enemies ahead of potential conflicts in the future
Russian sensors have been found in the seas around the UK amid concerns Moscow could be spying on British nuclear submarines.
The sensors around Britain are believed to have been planted by Kremlin operatives in order to obtain intelligence from the country’s four Vanguard submarines, each armed with nuclear missiles that can bring annihilation to Moscow. One of the submarines is always under the sea as part of the UK’s continuous deterrent against Russia and other threats. Russia is the only country that has a fleet of specialist submarines for both sea-bed warfare and espionage, some of which are believed to have surpassed those used by NATO members. Russian despot has ordered naval operations as part of a wider conflict against its enemies.
“There should be no doubt, there is a war raging in the Atlantic,” a senior serving figure told The Sunday Times. “This is a game of cat and mouse that has continued since the ending of the Cold War, and is now heating up again. We are seeing phenomenal amounts of Russian activity.”
Russia also has a fleet of mini-submarines that can cause havoc on Britain, which can use its manipulator arms that can cut undersea cables, lay explosives or even hack fibre optic cables. During these operations they are supported by two larger submarines that give cover as they move across the globe.
The Nord Stream pipeline sabotage in 2022 laid bare the fragility of the UK’s energy supply. Were Russia to severe the oil and gas pipelines with explosive devises it could represent a serious issue for the UK.
“You cut those and you’ve lost that energy – and in the winter during high usage, that could be serious,” a senior military figure told the outlet. A second added a co-ordinated attack could result in the “failure of the national grid.”
There are dozens of internet cables that connect the country to the rest of the world and are only a few inches thick, meaning they could be easily cut. While their locations have been made public, private companies have laid down so many that navy sources believe there could be enough “redundancy” in order to recover.
But British officials is reportedly concerns that Russia could tap into or destroy military cables vital to its operations around the globe. One senior source told The Sunday Times: “There are cables that are not public. The Russians have the capability to cut military cables.”
The Ministry of Defence reportedly said it was “beyond reasonable doubt” that Russia’s remotely operated vessels are attempting to hack cables around Britain, although there is no evidence that suggests these have been successful.
The Mirror has contacted the UK Ministry of Defence for comment via email.