The UK government has announced an inquiry into the vulnerability of the country’s undersea cables following the identification of a Russian spy ship, Yantar, in British waters. The ship was reported to be mapping the country’s subsea infrastructure, sparking concerns about potential threats to the cables that carry 99% of the UK’s data. The British government responded by authorizing a Royal Navy attack submarine to surface near the Russian vessel as a deterrent, signaling that its actions were being closely monitored. Defence Secretary John Healey stated that this incident, which occurred in November 2024, had escalated due to the spy ship returning to British waters earlier this year.
The Joint Committee on the National Security Strategy (JCNSS) highlighted the vulnerability of several subsea cables in northern Europe, which have been targeted or severed over the past years, including cables connecting Norway, Sweden, Finland, Estonia, and the Shetland Islands. This concern is heightened by the observation of more than 50 Russian vessels in areas with high cable density in the Baltic Sea, further raising alarms about potential sabotage or damage to this vital infrastructure. The committee noted that while these cables are crucial for communication and data transfer, they remain an increasingly soft target for foreign interference.
This investigation follows a disturbing incident on Christmas Day in the Baltic Sea, where a Russian spy ship, Eagle S, allegedly dragged its anchor for over 60 miles, damaging several cables.
Finnish authorities have since seized the vessel and suspected intentional damage, although intelligence officials have not yet confirmed this as sabotage. The inquiry into the UK’s own subsea cables will examine the country’s ability to protect this infrastructure from potential attacks and assess how resilient it would be in the face of major disruptions.
The UK government has acknowledged the growing risks and emphasized the need for greater awareness and preparation to defend its subsea infrastructure. Matt Western, the committee’s chair, stressed that the vulnerability of undersea cables was becoming a critical issue as foreign states attempt to exploit weaknesses in this vital communication link. Despite the rising concerns, officials have reassured the public that the country’s resilience and monitoring capabilities remain robust, though they have warned that any attack on this infrastructure would have severe consequences for the UK.
