‘Won’t Take Eyes Off Putin’: UK-Norway Mission Targets Russian Submarine Threat

The United Kingdom and Norway carried out a month-long joint operation to monitor suspected Russia submarine activity near critical undersea cables and energy pipelines in the North Atlantic.

The mission involved a warship, surveillance aircraft, and hundreds of personnel, the UK military said. UK Defence Secretary John Healey described the activity as “malign,” involving a Russian Akula-class attack submarine and two specialist spy submarines from Moscow’s Main Directorate for Deep Sea Research (GUGI). He said the vessels withdrew after the sustained monitoring operation.

Calling Russia the main threat to Britain and its allies, Healey warned, “Putin would want us to be distracted by the Middle East. We will not take our eyes off Putin.” He added that any attempt to interfere with undersea infrastructure would not be tolerated and would carry serious consequences.

The operation underscored the UK’s shift to a more assertive role in maritime security. Earlier, Britain’s forces had primarily assisted France and the US in monitoring suspect vessels, but now they are prepared to intercept and seize ships believed to be part of Russia’s “shadow fleet” — vessels covertly transporting Russian oil in defiance of sanctions imposed after Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.

Officials also highlighted connections between the Ukraine conflict and tensions in the Middle East, alleging that Russia has been supplying Iran with drone parts and other support, further justifying the need for vigilance in the North Atlantic.

The operation demonstrated that UK and Norwegian forces were able to track the Russian submarines openly, leaving them “in no doubt” that their movements were being monitored, according to Healey.