UK warships uncover secret Russian submarine operation near British waters (PHOTO)

The British military has exposed a covert Russian submarine operation in and around UK waters, forcing the vessels to retreat back to Russia, the UK Ministry of Defense revealed.

British aircraft and warships identified a Russian attack submarine entering international waters in the High North several weeks ago, and tracked its activity around the clock. The Royal Navy deployed a Type 23 frigate, HMS St Albans, RFA Tidespring, and Merlin helicopters to track the attack submarine as it operated near British territorial waters.

As part of the operation, which saw British ships cover thousands of miles, the RAF and Navy deployed sonobuoys to track the Russian vessels.

The navy established that the submarine was deployed as a distraction, and the UK worked closely with allies, including Norway, to identify and monitor other Russian undersea naval units from the Main Directorate of Deep Sea Research (known as GUGI) conducting “nefarious activity over critical undersea infrastructure elsewhere”.

The UK officials noted that both the GUGI units and the Akula class submarine have subsequently retreated home, having failed to complete their operation in secrecy.

“I want to pay tribute to the UK personnel who spent many days tracking these Russian submarines in extremely challenging and treacherous conditions. While the eyes of many – understandably – were on the Middle East, our British Armed Forces were simultaneously responding to rising Russian threats north of the UK,” Defense Secretary John Healey said.

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While the Russian attack submarine has now headed back towards Russia, the UK has kept both naval vessels and aircraft ready to respond should Russian vessels return, it was highlighted.

GUGI is Russia’s long-running military programme to develop capabilities to be deployed from specialist surface vessels and submarines, that are intended to survey underwater infrastructure during peacetime, but then damage or destroy infrastructure during a conflict.

British defences were previously tested by GUGI when the Russian spy ship Yantar sailed near UK waters last year. The ship was tracked by a Royal Navy frigate and RAF P8s, with lasers being directed at British pilots.

This comes as the Royal Navy completes ten days of intensive monitoring operations of Russian warships and a submarine which entered UK waters in the English Channel and North Sea. HMS Somerset and HMS Mersey, supported by tanker RFA Tideforce and Wildcat helicopters, tracked the movements of a Russian destroyer, frigate, landing ship, and Kilo-class submarine. 

Over the last two years, the UK has seen a 30% increase in Russian vessels threatening UK waters.

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