Russia is preparing for covert operations on critical infrastructure around the United Kingdom.
Modern.az reports that the "Financial Times" newspaper wrote about this.
It is reported that the vessel named “Yantar” conducted observations in British waters for 13 months, starting from last autumn. During this period, the vessel monitored Europe's underwater cable lines and strategic facilities.
The investigation is based on satellite radiolocation data from the European Space Agency. These images revealed that “Yantar” was positioned over critical cable lines in the center of the Irish Sea in November 2024. Experts state that the vessel attempted to conceal its activities.
Currently, 99% of digital communication in the United Kingdom is provided by underwater optical cables. Two-thirds of the country's gas supply is also transported via seabed pipelines. For this reason, a potential attack on this infrastructure poses a particular threat.
It is reported that “Yantar” is equipped with underwater apparatus, capable of connecting to cable lines to intercept data, and also of placing explosive devices for sabotage purposes in the future.
Official Moscow, however, presents the vessel as an “oceanographic research vessel.” However, Western military experts claim that the vessel's primary mission is to conduct intelligence activities against NATO countries' underwater surveillance systems and communication lines.
