File photo courtesy of Reuters

 

In a bold move, UK Defence Secretary John Healey has openly warned Russian President Vladimir Putin: "We're hunting your submarines." Amid a dramatic rise in Russian vessels near UK waters, Healey highlights the increasing "Russian aggression" affecting all of Europe, not just Ukraine. The Ministry of Defence confirms Russian submarine activity in the North Atlantic has surged to Cold War levels.

 

In response, the RAF and Royal Navy are stepping up surveillance, conducting daily missions with vital contributions from Nato allies. BBC News joined Healey on a P-8 aircraft mission, witnessing first-hand the high-tech systems used to track both surface and underwater threats. Healey stressed the UK's resolve against Russian challenges: "Russia is watching us, but we're watching you."

 

The mission also involved tracking various surface vessels, utilising advanced cameras for signs of suspicious activity. Recent operations have included monitoring a Russian spy ship near critical undersea cables in the Irish Sea, amid growing worries about potential hybrid warfare tactics. The aircraft is also armed with sonar buoys to detect and track submarines, which are integral in countering these underwater threats.

 

Germany is poised to expand the defence collaboration, having ordered eight P-8 aircraft. German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius joined the mission, underscoring the strengthened UK-German defence ties. Alongside UK-made Sting Ray torpedoes, the two nations are enhancing efforts in cyber-security and joint military initiatives. This partnership is seen as vital in the face of Russia's ongoing hybrid warfare strategies.

 

With Europe unified against Russian provocations, leaders like Healey and Pistorius remain focused on countering threats. They are determined to bolster defence operations, aiming to safeguard undersea infrastructure and regional stability against hybrid warfare tactics.

 

 

Key Takeaways:

 

• UK sees a significant increase in Russian vessels near its waters.
• Defence co-operation between the UK and Germany is intensifying with new military investments.
• Countermeasures are ongoing to protect critical undersea infrastructure from perceived threats.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from BBC 2025-10-24

 

 

See it, torpedo it, Sorted. A play on the London Underground mantra but would be quite appropriate in these circumstances. 

The next step will be to ban all Russian vessels from British waters including the Channel and Irish Sea.

23 hours ago, webfact said:

Germany is poised to expand the defence collaboration

 

23 hours ago, webfact said:

aiming to safeguard undersea infrastructure

555555   yeah right

 

Germany still only very slightly miffed that Poland will not extradite those accused of blowing up the Nordstream pipeline,  forcing them to buy much more expensive gas from the US.

 

19 minutes ago, Keeps said:

See it, torpedo it, Sorted.

Well two can play at that game can't they ?..sounds like a very dangerous game to me.  

that about all UK can do, just watch !

They watch every day while hundreds of illegal immigrants  cross the channel in rubber dinghies. 

2 minutes ago, johng said:

They watch every day while hundreds of illegal immigrants  cross the channel in rubber dinghies. 

No one is illegal. 

Just now, nick supreme said:

No one is illegal. 

They can all stay at your house then ???

Just now, johng said:

They can all stay at your house then ???

You are a racist fascist.  

7 minutes ago, nick supreme said:

You are a racist fascist.  

Not at all  I just don't want the country overrun with illegal immigrants.

can they stay at your place or not ?

14 minutes ago, johng said:

Not at all  I just don't want the country overrun with illegal immigrants.

can they stay at your place or not ?

Diversity is our strength .

Just now, nick supreme said:

Diversity is our strength .

No its not !   and anyway if its your strength then you should let them all stay at your place

shouldn't you ?

47 minutes ago, nick supreme said:

No one is illegal. 

Other than about 11,000,000 in your homeland. You are from the good 'ol USofA aren't you?

Why does the Russian Government wish to observe the U.K. from a close distance, with surface vessels and submarines?

 

Some possibilities:

 

1.  Early warning of a suspected nuclear attack.

 

2.  Early defence against a suspected nuclear attack.

 

3.  Offensive response to a suspected nuclear attack.

 

4.  A warning to dampen down rising provocations.

 

5.  A combination of the above.

 

N.B.  On a purely personal level, someone who believes he is about to be battered by an aggressor may act pre-emptively rather than await incapacitating confirmation.

 

And since the scope of discussion here has been somewhat broadened, it can be suggested that eight years (2014-2022) of murder of 14,000 Russian-speaking civilians in the east by racists from the western oblasts puts the latter in the position, at the very least, of illegal immigrants into the Eastern Ukraine.  They have deprived themselves of all right to be there.

That's about all the UK is capable of now. Watching

On 10/24/2025 at 4:19 PM, webfact said:

With Europe unified against Russian provocations, leaders like Healey and Pistorius remain focused on countering threats.

Yep, we better get those awful Russians before they take our land and resources. What does Europe have that Russia would be interested in? Nothing. What does Russia have that the West would be interested in? Everything. Russia is the aggressor in a sheep's dreams. 

2 hours ago, portisaacozzy said:

that about all UK can do, just watch !

I have one son in the Royal Navy and another in the Royal Marines and I can assure you the navy is more than capable of just watching.

Perhaps someone may be interested in this.

 

https://www.forcesnews.com/services/raf/uk-and-germany-pledge-join-forces-hunt-russian-submarines-north-atlantic?utm_source=Forces+Newsletter&utm_campaign=9dc16cf9ca-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2025_06_04_04_16_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_-18a1b7d468-441396865

59 minutes ago, Knocker33 said:

That's about all the UK is capable of now. Watching

Seems so very sad indeed    Rule, Britannia!, Britannia rule the waves  a long gone distant memory   can't even defend its own borders.

18 minutes ago, Bannoi said:

I have one son in the Royal Navy and another in the Royal Marines and I can assure you the navy is more than capable of just watching.

Can you ask them to please repel the rubber dinghies !  send them back to whence they came.

Just now, johng said:

Can you ask them to please repel the rubber dinghies !  send them back to whence they came.

I'm sure they would if ordered to unfortunately its not their call.

The biggest threat to my mind would be a missile and drone attack on the UK.

 

The fact is we dont have a dedicated missile defence system as such. The only missile defence would be what the Royal Navy could provide.

 

A House of Dynamite

https://www.forcesnews.com/usa/house-dynamite-how-prepared-are-us-and-uk-missile-attack?utm_source=Forces+Newsletter&utm_campaign=9dc16cf9ca-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2025_06_04_04_16_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_-18a1b7d468-441396865

4 minutes ago, Bannoi said:

unfortunately its not their call.

There you have it..IMHO a deliberate policy of letting in all and sundry 

while those who could make a difference.. stand down..I'm not blaming the rank and file 

those at the top should take the blame.

Watching your subs with our leaking/creaking subs.

 

UK ta;ks a big game with USA at their back (in theory).

45 minutes ago, Bannoi said:

Perhaps someone may be interested in this.

 

https://www.forcesnews.com/services/raf/uk-and-germany-pledge-join-forces-hunt-russian-submarines-north-atlantic

 All set for WAR :

On your marks !

Get set !

…

The UK can't even control it's borders.

 

Putin must be laughing at the pathetic beta male in charge of the UK. Rodney Starmer.

8 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

The UK can't even control it's borders.

It's quite pathetic  an Island nation  yet absolutely no control  over the seas surrounding the

once rulers of the waves....record numbers of illegals this year.

2 hours ago, ericbj said:

Why does the Russian Government wish to observe the U.K. from a close distance, with surface vessels and submarines?

 

Some possibilities:

 

1.  Early warning of a suspected nuclear attack.

 

2.  Early defence against a suspected nuclear attack.

 

3.  Offensive response to a suspected nuclear attack.

 

4.  A warning to dampen down rising provocations.

 

5.  A combination of the above.

 

N.B.  On a purely personal level, someone who believes he is about to be battered by an aggressor may act pre-emptively rather than await incapacitating confirmation.

 

And since the scope of discussion here has been somewhat broadened, it can be suggested that eight years (2014-2022) of murder of 14,000 Russian-speaking civilians in the east by racists from the western oblasts puts the latter in the position, at the very least, of illegal immigrants into the Eastern Ukraine.  They have deprived themselves of all right to be there.

6. Posturing (on both sides).

"In this interview John Kiriakou talks to Ray McGovern, former CIA officer and political analyst provides some insightful analysis on Russia's strategy in the war in Ukraine, and the state of play for a ceasefire and ending the war after three years."

 

https://youtu.be/stKng39CllU

8 hours ago, freedomnow said:

UK ta;ks a big game with USA at their back (in theory).

 

Not with current US regime.  No way the guy running that show is going to make any substantive move against Putin.  EU and GB are well aware of this. IMO no one suspected a crumbling of the Western alliance, save for in Putin's and Bannon's wildest dreams.