Britain, Norway Claim to Have Foiled ‘Nefarious Activity’ by Russians Near Undersea Cables

British Defence Secretary John Healey said any attempt to damage UK undersea cables and pipelines ‘will not be tolerated and will have serious consequences.’

British Defence Secretary John Healey talks about the Russian submarine's activities, at 9 Downing Street in London on April 9, 2026. Yui Mok/Pool Photo via AP

British Defence Secretary John Healey said on April 9 that the militaries of the UK and Norway had deterred “nefarious activity” by Russian spy submarines over undersea cables in the North Atlantic in recent weeks.

Healey said a Royal Navy frigate, HMS St Albans, and Boeing P-8 maritime patrol planes were involved in tracking a Russian attack sub and two spy submarines in the waters north of Scotland, and the British Ministry of Defence (MOD) said they had been forced to retreat back to Russia.