"Deeply suspicious" Russian cargo ship stops near undersea cables as Royal Navy helicopter scrambled to scene
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Vigilant Royal Navy aviators were deployed after a Russian cargo ship was spotted near critical undersea cables.
A Wildcat helicopter from Yeovilton in Somerset was scrambled after the vessel Sinegorsk was seen moored near Minehead. The ship was less than a mile from undersea telecommunications cables connecting Britain to the US, Canada, Spain, and Portugal.
Shadow security minister Alicia Kearns told The Daily Telegraph: “The movements of this Russian ship are deeply suspicious. It’s a reminder of the persistent and pernicious threats our country faces from Vladimir Putin and his allies.”
Sinegorsk was first spotted sailing into the Bristol Channel on Tuesday night. Officials ordered the ship to leave British waters when the Russians claimed they were carrying out safety repairs. The Royal Navy was deployed 14 hours later, with the Moscow crew raising anchor and sailing out to sea. Five undersea cable were within three quarters of a mile of the ship.
A Ministry of Defence (MoD) spokesperson told the national publication: “We are acutely aware of the threat posed by Russia, which includes attempts to map undersea cables, networks, and pipelines belonging to both the UK and our allies, and we are tackling these threats head on. The Royal Navy constantly monitors our seas, including safeguarding critical infrastructure such as underwater cables and offshore structures.”
Responding to the movements of Russian ships is routine business for the Royal Navy, but it has been put under the spotlight recently. Portsmouth-based patrol ships HMS Mersey and HMS Severn has persistently been deployed to scope out Moscow-flagged vessels this month.
Royal Fleet Auxiliary sailors and RAF both supported the American operation to seize the oil tanker Marinera, suspected to be part of Putin’s shadow fleet which shirks economic sanctions to fund the illegal invasion of Ukraine. Defence secretary John Healey called for more action to push against these sorts of vessels, with policies being analysed as to whether they can be seized.