Russian trawlers map UK undersea cables in 500+ surveillance ops
17 Russian vessels logged loitering over critical fibre-optic cables since 2021, data reveals
Seventeen Russian fishing vessels have spent prolonged periods moving at low speeds near critical undersea cables in British waters since 2021, according to data analyzed by Global Fishing Watch. The trawlers, some of which have never been observed landing fish, have been recorded in over 500 separate incidents either lingering above cable routes or tracing them across long distances.
Intelligence assessments suggest these vessels are systematically charting the location of cables connecting the UK to the United States and Europe. The collected data could later enable unmanned underwater vehicles to disrupt communications by cutting cables or installing devices to block data transmission. Such an attack, if executed during a period of heightened tensions, could sever essential services from supporting data centers for months.
The UK Parliament’s Defence Committee has warned that the country’s undersea infrastructure faces a serious and immediate threat. Committee Chairman Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi stated, “We must recognize the volatility of the world we now live in and adapt accordingly.”
Norwegian Cruise Line
Russian trawlers map undersea cables in UK waters
The UK’s ability to monitor or intercept these operations is severely limited by a shortage of operational attack submarines. None of the Royal Navy’s seven Astute Class nuclear submarines are currently available for deployment. Three, HMS Astute, HMS Ambush, and HMS Artful, remain non-operational at Faslane Naval Base, while two others, HMS Audacious and HMS Anson, are undergoing maintenance in Devonport. HMS Agamemnon is still in pre-delivery sea trials, and HMS Achilles has yet to be completed.
The deficit is so acute that the Royal Navy requested assistance from a French Suffren Class submarine to escort the ballistic missile submarine HMS Vanguard during its April patrol. This reliance on allied support underscores the UK’s diminished capacity to protect its own waters.
Royal Navy struggles to counter Russian surveillance
When the Royal Navy has managed to conduct surveillance, often using sensors towed by Type 23 frigates, maritime patrol aircraft, and support from NATO allies, it has uncovered evidence of Russian activity. Earlier this year, a joint US, UK, and Norwegian operation disrupted a Russian trial of an offensive underwater robot designed to sabotage cables near Svalbard. The operation involved two submarines from the Russian Navy’s Main Directorate of Deep-Sea Research (GUGI), accompanied by an Akula Class attack submarine.
A NATO source confirmed awareness of Russian trawlers’ activities, stating, “We know exactly what these civilian vessels are doing and where.” However, without sufficient submarine capability, much of Russia’s mapping efforts proceed undetected or unchallenged. The Defence Committee has called for urgent investment in frigates, destroyers, and submarines to address these “glaring gaps” in the UK’s maritime defenses.
The threat is not theoretical. A covert attack on undersea cables could cripple the UK’s economy and security before any conventional conflict begins. With its submarine fleet out of action and surveillance resources stretched thin, the UK’s ability to deter or respond to such threats remains in doubt.
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