[Kale Carey]

BRITISH DEFENSE OFFICIALS HAVE UNCOVERED SUSPECTED RUSSIAN SPY DEVICES IN THE WATERS SURROUNDING THE UK. THE DISCOVERY COMES AMID INTELLIGENCE SUGGESTING OLIGARCH-OWNED SUPERYACHTS MAY HAVE AIDED RUSSIAN EFFORTS TO MONITOR NUCLEAR SUBMARINES AND CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE — PART OF WHAT OFFICIALS DESCRIBE AS A GROWING CAMPAIGN OF UNDERWATER ESPIONAGE.

THE ROYAL NAVY DISCOVERED SOME DEVICES DURING OPERATIONS, WHILE OTHERS WASHED ASHORE, ACCORDING TO THE SUNDAY TIMES. OFFICIALS BELIEVE RUSSIA PLANTED THEM TO TRACK THE U.K.’S NUCLEAR-ARMED VANGUARD SUBMARINES, WHICH MAINTAIN THE COUNTRY’S CONTINUOUS AT-SEA DETERRENT.

BRITISH MILITARY SOURCES CITED IN THE REPORT SAY THE FINDINGS REFLECT A BROADER RUSSIAN CAMPAIGN OF UNDERWATER ESPIONAGE THAT INCLUDES THE USE OF UNMANNED VEHICLES AND DEEP-SEA SUBMARINES. THE U.K. DEFENSE MINISTRY HAS NOT PUBLICLY DISCLOSED THE LOCATIONS OF THE SENSORS BUT MAINTAINS THE COUNTRY’S NUCLEAR DETERRENT REMAINS UNDETECTED.

IN ADDITION, OFFICIALS SUSPECT RUSSIAN OLIGARCH-OWNED SUPERYACHTS HAVE CONDUCTED RECONNAISSANCE NEAR U.K. PORTS. THE TIMES REPORTS THAT SOME YACHTS CARRIED “MOON POOLS,” OR UNDERWATER ACCESS HATCHES, WHICH CREWS COULD HAVE USED TO DEPLOY SURVEILLANCE EQUIPMENT.

ONE FORMER MINISTER RECALLED A 2018 INCIDENT WHERE A BRITISH WARSHIP LEFT PORT IN CYPRUS AFTER A NEARBY SUPERYACHT RAISED SUSPICION OF INTELLIGENCE GATHERING.

THE ROYAL NAVY HAS INCREASED SURVEILLANCE, DEPLOYING THE DEEP-SEA VESSEL R-F-A PROTEUS TO MONITOR THREATS. THE SHIP HAS TRACKED THE RUSSIAN SPY VESSEL YANTAR MULTIPLE TIMES — YANTAR IS CAPABLE OF INTERFERING WITH UNDERSEA CABLES.

TO COUNTER THE THREAT, THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE IS INVESTING IN UNMANNED SUBMARINES, SURVEILLANCE DRONES, AND PARTNERSHIPS WITH PRIVATE INDUSTRY TO BETTER PROTECT INFRASTRUCTURE.

OFFICIALS SAY THESE ACTIONS REFLECT RUSSIA’S BROADER “GREYZONE” STRATEGY—COVERT OPERATIONS DESIGNED TO AVOID DIRECT CONFLICT WHILE DESTABILIZING WESTERN SECURITY.

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