• UK and Norwegian forces conducted a military operation to deter Russian submarines.
• Defence Secretary John Healey warned Russia against harming critical undersea infrastructure.
• No damage was reported to UK cables and pipelines during the operation.
• The operation involved tracking three Russian submarines over a month-long period.
• This incident is linked to broader concerns over hybrid warfare tactics by Russia.

The United Kingdom, in collaboration with Norway, has engaged in a military operation to track and deter three Russian submarines suspected of conducting a "covert operation" near vital undersea cables and pipelines in the North Atlantic. Defence Secretary John Healey confirmed that British forces deployed warships, aircraft, and hundreds of personnel, effectively monitoring the Russian vessels over a month-long period without any reported damage to infrastructure, according to Reuters, CBS News, and BBC.

During a news conference, Healey emphasized that the UK was monitoring "malign activity" by Russian submarines, warning President Vladimir Putin that any attempt to damage the undersea cables and pipelines would not be tolerated. He stated, "We see your activity over our cables and our pipelines, and you should know that any attempt to damage them will have serious consequences," as reported by South China Morning Post and Los Angeles Times.

The operation involved monitoring an Akula-class Russian nuclear-powered attack submarine and two specialist deep-sea vessels from the Main Directorate of Deep Sea Research (GUGI). These submarines are believed to be designed for surveying underwater infrastructure during peacetime and conducting sabotage operations during conflicts, according to Al Jazeera and India Times.

British and Norwegian forces utilized advanced surveillance techniques, including sonar buoys, to ensure continuous monitoring of the Russian vessels, thus clarifying that their operations were no longer covert. This military action forms part of a broader strategy to counter Russia's provocative tactics in the region, especially amidst rising geopolitical tensions linked to hybrid warfare, which aims to pressure nations without escalating to direct military engagement, as highlighted by CBS News and Reuters.