The UK has issued a stark warning to Vladimir Putin after Russian attack and spy submarines were found operating in the North Atlantic.
Defence secretary John Healey revealed UK and allies monitored the vessels – which included one attack submarine and two spy submarines – for a month before they retreated.
Mr Healey told a press conference in Downing Street on Thursday that in the past few weeks – while many eyes were trained on the Middle East crisis – the UK, in partnership with Norway and other allies, responded to “increased Russian activity” in the Atlantic north of the UK.
Addressing the Russian president directly, Mr Healey said: “We see your activity over our cables and our pipelines, and you should know that any attempt to damage them will not be tolerated and will have serious consequences.”
It comes after the Telegraph reported that Russia sent a warship to escort sanctioned oil tankers through the English channel, despite Keir Starmer’s warning that sanctioned vessels sailing in British waters would be seized.
Black Sea fleet frigate Admiral Grigorovich is said to have accompanied a pair of shadow fleet ships on Wednesday, which were followed by a British naval vessel.
According to the newspaper, the vessel observed the flotilla off England’s south coast while RFA Tideforce, a Royal Fleet Auxiliary tanker, was in their wake.
It comes after the prime minister last month said that the Navy will intercept Russia’s shadow fleet. The armed forces and British law enforcement are now able to board and halt sanctioned vessels that are passing through UK waters.
Sir Keir’s announcement came in conjunction with European allies in an attempt to cut off funding for Moscow’s war with Ukraine,
It is understood that Russia’s shadow fleet consists of approximately 700 vessels, carrying around 40 per cent of all Russian oil exports. The UK has sanctioned 544 Russian shadow fleet vessels to date.
They illicitly ship oil and other goods out of Russia by flying the flags of other countries, with the aim of evading sanctions imposed by the West since the invasion of Ukraine began.
Sir Keir gave approval for British forces to begin seizing Russian shadow fleet tankers on 26 March.
Closing off British waters to the shadow fleet is aimed at forcing the Russian vessels into taking longer, more costly sea routes, or risk being intercepted by the UK.
Sir Keir said: “We are living in an increasingly volatile and dangerous world, facing threats from different fronts across the world every day.
“As prime minister, my first duty is to keep this country safe and protect British interests here and abroad.
“Putin is rubbing his hands at the war in the Middle East because he thinks higher oil prices will let him line his pockets.
“That’s why we’re going after his shadow fleet even harder, not just keeping Britain safe but starving Putin’s war machine of the dirty profits that fund his barbaric campaign in Ukraine.
“He and his cronies should be in no doubt, we will always defend our sovereignty and stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes.”
British forces have already been involved in tracking shadow fleet vessels for several years, and have supported operations by other countries to seize the ships.
In January, the UK assisted in the seizure of the oil tanker Marinera by the US.
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