British Defense Secretary John Healey warned Russian President Vladimir Putin of “serious consequences” on Thursday after unveiling a weeks-long military operation to deter Russian interference in the North Sea.
“To President Putin I say: we see you, we see your activities over our cables and pipelines, and you must know that any attempt to damage them will not be tolerated and will have serious consequences,” he warned.
The defense secretary described an operation involving a Royal Navy frigate, a Royal Air Force patrol aircraft and hundreds of personnel to deter a trio of Russian submarines that were detected near underwater cables in Britain’s economic exclusion zone.
RUSSIA AND CHINA VETO UN RESOLUTION AIMING REOPENING STRAIT OF HORMUZ, HOURS BEFORE TRUMP DEADLINE
British Defense Secretary John Healey makes a statement on recent British operational activities at 9 Downing Street in London on Thursday, April 9, 2026. (Yui Mok/swimming pool photo via AP)
One of the submarines, Healey disclosed, was a nuclear powered Akula-class submarine, while the other two were spy submarines of the Russian Main Directorate of Deep Sea Research, also known as GUGI. Submarines from this unit were specifically directed by Putin “to conduct hybrid war activities against Britain” and its allies, Healey said.
At least one of those allies, Norway, was involved in the deterrent operation, Healey revealed. Norwegian Defense Minister Tore O Sandvik confirmed the cooperation in a statement on Thursday.
“Norway has participated with our allies in a coordinated military operation to send a clear message: covert activities in our waters will not be tolerated,” the spokesperson said. Sandvik wrote.
The submarines left British waters after a lengthy period of monitoring from Britain and Norway, and there is no evidence of damage to any underwater infrastructure, Healey said.
The Russian incursion marked the second time in less than six months that Britain discovered Russian naval vessels near its territorial waters. Healey announced a similar military operation in November after Russia deployed the spy ship Yantar to the North Sea in 2025.
TRUMP AND STARMER AGREE THAT THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ MUST REOPEN AS CONFLICT ESCATES IN THE MIDDLE EAST
Russian President Vladimir Putin holds a meeting to discuss the situation in Dagestan, hit by severe flooding, via video conference at the Novo-Ogaryovo state residence outside Moscow, Russia, Tuesday, April 7, 2026. (Alexander Kazakov, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)
Healey also cited this year’s incident as an example of why Britain has not sent troops to the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow waterway in the Persian Gulf that is crucial to global energy markets and that has choked Iran in recent weeks.
“I understand that people are wondering why not all British military assets and personnel have been deployed to tackle this problem. But that is not in Britain’s national interest,” he said, later calling Russia “the main threat to Britain and NATO.”
President Donald Trump has criticized NATO allies and the organization itself for failing to respond to requests to help open the Strait of Hormuz.
“NATO wasn’t there when we needed them, and they won’t be there when we need them again,” he wrote in a Truth Social post Thursday morning.
Russian personnel walk on the gangway to the Russian Navy submarine RFS Petropavlosvsk-Kamchatskiy, which is currently on a port visit to Tanjung Priok Port in Jakarta, Indonesia, Tuesday, March 31, 2026 (AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana)
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