Royal Navy discovers Russian spy devices targeting UK nuclear submarine routes

Russian espionage devices discovered near UK naval bases expose vulnerabilities in Britain’s nuclear deterrent capability as maintenance delays leave majority of submarine fleet unavailable for deployment.
Ukraine’s Special Operations Forces officers and their colleagues from NATO member states taking part in joint exercises on UK Royal Navy's destroyer Dragon. October 10, 2020 (Source: facebook.com/usofcom)
Ukraine’s Special Operations Forces officers and their colleagues from NATO member states taking part in joint exercises on UK Royal Navy’s destroyer Dragon on 10 October, 2020 (Source: facebook.com/usofcom)
Royal Navy discovers Russian spy devices targeting UK nuclear submarine routes

The Royal Navy has discovered Russian spy devices washed ashore that were used to track the movements of British nuclear submarines, The Telegraph reports.

Currently, the Royal Navy operates nine nuclear submarines: four Vanguard-class and five Astute-class attack submarines. However, only two are ready for deployment — one Vanguard-class boat that is continuously at sea as part of the UK’s nuclear deterrent patrols, and HMS Anson, a newly commissioned Astute-class submarine. The remaining submarines are undergoing various stages of maintenance due to significant challenges in British shipbuilding, a shortage of qualified personnel, and limited drydock capacity.

According to the Royal Navy, the sensors have been deployed by Russia to monitor the UK’s submarine fleet — a central component of the country’s nuclear deterrent.

These devices are now being treated as a potential national security threat. In response, operations have been launched to detect and remove them, as well as to inspect possible submarine exit routes from the Faslane naval base, Militarnyi reports.

Previously, The Sunday Times informed— citing anonymous sources — that Russia was actively seeking intelligence on the UK’s Vanguard-class nuclear submarines, which carry intercontinental ballistic missiles armed with nuclear warheads.

Currently, the Royal Navy has only one operational submarine, while the other three Vanguard boats are undergoing maintenance or repairs. Delays in the defense industrial sector mean some submarines have been under maintenance for five years or more.

Russia possesses a specialized fleet capable of damaging underwater infrastructure and building entire undersea surveillance systems. Russian intelligence vessels are reportedly far better equipped than their British counterparts and most NATO navies.

Russia is also believed to be using civilian tankers in espionage missions. One such vessel, the Eagle S, was intercepted by the Finnish coast guard and found to be equipped with special transmitting and receiving equipment. While passing through the English Channel, its crew reportedly dumped sensor devices into the sea.

Related:

You could close this page. Or you could join our community and help us produce more materials like this.  We keep our reporting open and accessible to everyone because we believe in the power of free information. This is why our small, cost-effective team depends on the support of readers like you to bring deliver timely news, quality analysis, and on-the-ground reports about Russia's war against Ukraine and Ukraine's struggle to build a democratic society. A little bit goes a long way: for as little as the cost of one cup of coffee a month, you can help build bridges between Ukraine and the rest of the world, plus become a co-creator and vote for topics we should cover next. Become a patron or see other ways to support. Become a Patron!

To suggest a correction or clarification, write to us here

You can also highlight the text and press Ctrl + Enter

Please leave your suggestions or corrections here



    Euromaidan Press

    We are an independent media outlet that relies solely on advertising revenue to sustain itself. We do not endorse or promote any products or services for financial gain. Therefore, we kindly ask for your support by disabling your ad blocker. Your assistance helps us continue providing quality content. Thank you!

    Related Posts