Russia sub threat being downplayed because of Iran

Defence secretary John Healey has claimed Russian submarines have been spying on UK underwater infrastructure. Healey held a special 9 April press conference to announce a month-long operation against UK underwater pipes and cables had been foiled. Without presenting any supporting evidence, he also claimed that too much focus on Iran was letting Russia’s president Vladimir Putin operate more freely.

Russia on the move (if you believe Labour)

Healey claimed the Russian mission had failed, but provided little firm detail on the location or nature of the operation – or the UK response.

The Guardian said:

Declining to reveal precisely where the operation took place, Healey said it did not happen in UK territorial waters but in the exclusive economic zone that extends up to 200 nautical miles from the UK coastline, or where it meets the boundary of other nations’ zones.

The Russians reportedly used three submarines:

The submarines were a Russian Akula class nuclear-powered vessel and two deep-sea submarines from Russia’s directorate for deep sea research (Gugi), he added.

The alleged Russian spy ship Yantar, a regular sight in UK waters, was also involved.

Healey also commented:

The Russian action took place “while the eyes of many were trained on the Middle East”, because of the US-Israeli attack on Iran.

He said no damage had been detected to UK pipes or cables, but the navy would check.

Undersea drones

The last incident involving the Yantar was reported on 19 November. On 20 November, Healey was at the opening of a new underwater drone warfare factory in Plymouth.

This was the new UK headquarters of Helsing, an AI arms firm. As the Canary reported at the time:

They’ll be making unmanned submersible ‘gliders’. Powered by AI, the SG-1 Fathom will “deliver persistent underwater surveillance, detecting enemy activity to protect our sea lanes and undersea critical national infrastructure”.

Healey told the BBC at the time:

As we look to defend ourselves, seas and protect our cables, the uncrewed submarines or underwater gliders have the potential for playing a big part in the future,

It allows us to extend the range of how we can detect, how we can deter and if necessary, deal with any aggression that we face.

A number of Helsing staff, as we reported, also have past associations with the global tech firm Palantir — as well as BAE and Airbus.

And, as Drone Wars told the Canary in early November 2025:

Helsing is a new AI-focused military corporation, funded by Spotify’s Daniel Ek, and keen to gain a slice of the UK government’s promised £5 billion spending on drones, AI and other emerging technology.

It is not clear if Helsing technology was deployed to deter the alleged Russian operation. For a man who called a major press conference, Healey was very stingy with specifics. However, what may be significant about this ‘operational update’ is his attempt to re-focus the press and public away from the UK’s role in the disastrous war in Iran. And back on the more comfortable terrain of a much-hyped but nebulous Russian threat.

Featured image via the Canary