Russian Submarine Activity Raises Concerns Near UK
Russia has reportedly deployed attack submarines to the Irish Sea on two occasions since President Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, according to Bloomberg. The first deployment occurred 18 months ago, and a second, more recent instance was also noted. The British Ministry of Defense has declined to comment on these activities, but the United States is aware of the movements. Analysts suggest that these actions could be aimed at gathering intelligence on British and Irish Sea defenses or potentially intimidating the U.K.
In addition to the Irish Sea activities, Russia has been expanding its naval presence in other regions. The nuclear-powered submarine Kazan, along with other warships and naval vessels, was recently deployed to the Caribbean Sea for planned military drills. The Russian Navy, which commands one of the world's largest submarine fleets with an estimated 58 vessels, may be increasing its operations as part of broader strategic objectives. Meanwhile, Ukrainian partisans have scouted the Admiralty Shipyards in St. Petersburg, discovering heavily guarded sections possibly linked to the development of new classified submarines despite ongoing sanctions.
Furthermore, Russian submarines Novorossiysk and Dmitrov participated in a torpedo duel exercise in the Baltic Sea on June 25. This area, often referred to as a "NATO lake" due to the surrounding NATO member countries, has gained strategic importance following Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the accession of Finland and Sweden to NATO. The exercise involved training on detecting and tracking adversary submarines, evasion, and combat maneuvers. The Baltic Sea remains a critical area for both NATO's military presence and Russia's commercial shipping, oil exports, and trade.
