Russian Spy Sensors Found on UK Submarines

Russian sensors, spying on British nuclear submarines, have been found in the seas around the UK. The Royal Navy discovered the devices after several washed ashore, raising concerns about national security.

The incident, previously undisclosed, was reported by The Sunday Times, revealing that Moscow aimed to gather intelligence on the UK’s four Vanguard submarines, which are armed with nuclear missiles. At least one of these submarines is always at sea as part of Britain’s continuous deterrent.

Russia’s fleet of specialist submarines is reportedly better equipped than those of the UK and its NATO allies in seabed warfare and espionage. 

Throughout the war in Ukraine, Russia has increased its efforts to surveil and sabotage underwater infrastructure, including internet cables, energy pipelines, and military communications vital to the West.

The Russian spy ship Yantar drew attention when it approached UK waters last year. Its underwater research is overseen by the Main Directorate for Deep-Sea Research (GUGI). 

Furthermore, in the past 15 months, at least 11 internet cables have been damaged in the Baltic Sea, with anchors dragging across the seabed.

The UK-led Joint Expeditionary Force’s Nordic Warden system, which uses AI to track Russia’s shadow fleet, was triggered when a cable between Estonia and Finland was damaged in December.

A senior British military official said, "There should be no doubt, there is a war raging in the Atlantic. 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."

The UK Ministry of Defence confirmed efforts to counter these threats: “Alongside our NATO and Joint Expeditionary Force allies, we are strengthening our response to ensure that Russian ships and aircraft cannot operate in secrecy near the UK or near NATO territory, harnessing new technologies like AI and coordinating patrols with our allies.”

The spokesperson added, “And our continuous-at-sea nuclear deterrent continues to patrol the world’s oceans undetected as it has done for 56 years.”

As the Gaze previously reported, dozens of tankers from Russia’s ‘shadow fleet’ have been freely passing through NATO waters in the Baltic Sea using fake insurance certificates. 

Read more on The Gaze:  Can the West Curb Russia’s Shadow Fleet?