UK issues stark warning to Putin over Russian submarines spotted in North Atlantic
Britain issued a stern warning to Vladimir Putin after Russia’s attack and the discovery of spy submarines operating in the North Atlantic.
Defense Secretary John Healey said Britain and its allies monitored the ships for a month before withdrawing.
Speaking in Downing Street on Thursday, he said many eyes had been on the Middle East crisis over the past few weeks, while Britain, in partnership with Norway and other allies, was responding to “increasing Russian activity” in the Atlantic north of the UK.
Addressing the Russian president directly, Mr Healey said: “We see your activities on our cables and pipelines and you should know that any attempt to damage them will not be tolerated and will lead to serious consequences.”
This comes after the Telegraph reported that Russia had sent a warship to escort sanctioned oil tankers through the English channel, despite Keir Starmer’s warning that sanctioned ships sailing in British waters would be seized.
The Black Sea fleet frigate Admiral Grigorovich is said to have escorted a pair of shadow fleet ships on Wednesday, followed by a British naval ship.
According to the newspaper, the ship was observing the fleet off the south coast of England, with the Royal Fleet Auxiliary tanker RFA Tideforce following behind them.
This comes after the prime minister said last month that the Navy would stop Russia’s shadow fleet. Armed forces and British law enforcement can now board and intercept sanctioned ships passing through UK waters.
Sir Keir’s announcement comes as European allies attempt to cut funding for Moscow’s war with Ukraine.
Russia’s shadow fleet is understood to number around 700 ships and carries around 40 percent of all Russia’s oil exports. To date, Britain has imposed sanctions on 544 Russian shadow fleet ships.
Since the invasion of Ukraine began, they have been illegally sending oil and other goods from Russia, flying the flags of other countries, in an attempt to evade Western sanctions.
The foreign minister said on Thursday that the government had authorized action against the Russian stay-behind fleet but would not comment on the details of military operations.
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