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UK Defense Secretary John Healey warned Russian President Vladimir Putin of “serious consequences” on Thursday after he revealed a weeks-long military operation to stop Russian interference in the North Sea.
“To President Putin, I say we see you, we see your work on our cables and pipelines, and you should know that any attempt to harm them will not be tolerated and will have serious consequences,” he warned.
The defense minister detailed a plan involving a Royal Navy frigate, a Royal Air Force aircraft and hundreds of personnel tasked with intercepting three Russian submarines found near underwater cables in Britain's exclusive economic zone.
RUSSIA, CHINA VETO UN RESOLUTION INTENDED TO REOPEN HORMUZ CRISIS, HOURS AHEAD OF TRUMP'S LIMITATION
British Defense Secretary John Healey presents a statement on the UK's latest operations at 9 Downing Street, London, on Thursday April 9, 2026. (Yui Mok/Pool Photo via AP)
One of the submarines, Healey announced, was the nuclear power Akula-class submarine, while the other two were spy submarines from Russia's Main Directorate of Deep Sea Research, also known as GUGI. Subscribers to the unit have been directed by Putin to “carry out hybrid warfare operations against the UK” and its allies, Healey said.
At least one of those allies, Norway, was involved in the blockade, Healey said. Norwegian Defense Minister Tore O Sandvik confirmed the cooperation in a statement on Thursday.
“Norway is participating in joint military operations with our partners to send a clear message: hidden activities in our waters will not be tolerated,” Sandvik. he wrote.
The submarines left UK waters after a long period of vigilance from the UK and Norway, and there was no evidence of damage to any underwater infrastructure, Healey said.
Fox News Digital has reached out to the UK Ministry of Defense for more information.
The Russian attack marked the second time in less than six months that the UK has detected Russian naval vessels near its waters. Healey announced similar military operations in November after Russia deploys the Yantar spy ship to the North Sea in 2025.
TRUMP, WOMAN ADMITS HORMUZ DEPARTMENT MUST BE REOPENED AS A MIDDLE EAST BLOCK.
Russian President Vladimir Putin holds a meeting to discuss the situation in Dagestan, which has been hit by severe floods, via videoconference in the settlement of Novo-Ogaryovo outside Moscow, Russia, Tuesday, April 7, 2026. (Alexander Kazakov, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)
Healey also cited this year's incident as an example of why the UK has not sent troops to the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow Persian Gulf waterway key to global energy markets that Iran has clamped down on in recent weeks.
“I understand people asking why all the UK's military assets and personnel weren't sent to deal with it. But that's not in Britain's national interest,” he said, later calling Russia “the main threat to the UK and NATO.”
President Donald Trump criticized NATO allies and the organization itself for not accepting requests to help open the Strait of Hormuz.
“NATO IS NOT THERE WHEN WE NEED US, AND THEY WILL NOT BE THERE WHEN WE NEED US AGAIN,” wrote Public Truth in a post on Thursday morning.
Russian crew members walk on the road to the Russian Navy submarine RFS Petropavlosvsk-Kamchatskiy, currently on a port visit at Tanjung Priok Port in Jakarta, Indonesia, Tuesday, March 31, 2026. (AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana)
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