Kathrine Frich
The UK has raised alarm over a sharp rise in Russian submarine activity near its shores.
British Defence Secretary John Healey says Moscow is testing Western resolve, prompting London to tighten surveillance and boost patrols in the North Atlantic.
Increased Russian activity
In an interview with the BBC, Healey revealed that the number of Russian naval units in British waters has grown by around 30 percent.
“We are watching you, we are hunting your submarines,” he warned, describing the situation as a serious challenge to European security.
The Ministry of Defence confirmed that recent Russian operations in the North Atlantic resemble the intensity of the Cold War era.
In response, the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force have increased patrols, often working alongside NATO allies. RAF aircraft now fly near-daily missions to track suspicious activity.
Sending a message
Healey said the expanded patrols are intended to send a clear warning to Moscow. “Russia is challenging us, testing us, watching us,” he told the BBC.
“We are responding to make sure they understand that the UK and its allies will not be intimidated.”
He also noted that other European nations, including Portugal, have taken similar steps.
The enhanced vigilance comes amid growing Western concern over hybrid tactics used by Russia to destabilize Europe.
Threat to the North Atlantic
British and German defence officials have described the Russian submarine presence as a direct threat to transatlantic security.
German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius echoed Healey’s comments, warning that Russia is waging a hybrid war targeting infrastructure and spreading disinformation.
According to the BBC, British, American, and Norwegian forces recently tracked a Russian submarine during exercises in the North Atlantic.
The same operation also observed the Russian navy monitoring the U.S. aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford.
Healey said such encounters show that Moscow is deliberately seeking to provoke and intimidate Western nations while gathering intelligence on their defences.
This article is made and published by Kathrine Frich, which may have used AI in the preparation
