Russian sensors suspected of spying on Britain’s nuclear submarines have been found in UK waters, reports suggest.
Royal Navy officials made the reported discovery after a number of the devices washed ashore, while others were detected by minehunter ships.
Officials fear this is part of a covert Kremlin campaign to potentially sabotage critical military infrastructure.
The revelation was never made public despite being deemed a serious national security risk, The Sunday Times reported.
Moscow had allegedly tried to collect intelligence on four Vanguard-class submarines, which carry nuclear missiles.
At least one of the submarines, which were introduced in 1994 as part of the Trident nuclear programme, is at sea as part of Britain’s continuous at-sea deterrent.
The Ministry of Defence suspects Moscow deployed the spy gear as part of a wider campaign of “greyzone” warfare.
Following its illegal invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Vladimir Putin’s forces have been stepping up its sabotage and surveillance of key underwater infrastructure for the West, such as internet cables and energy pipelines.
A serving British military figure said: “There should be no doubt, there is a war raging in the Atlantic. This is a game of cat and mouse that has continued since the ending of the Cold War, and is now heating up again.”
Another added: “It’s a bit like the space race. This is a world clouded in secrecy and subterfuge... but there’s enough smoke to suggest something is on fire somewhere.”
At least 11 internet cables in the Baltic Sea have been damaged over the past 15 months — some reportedly by ships dragging anchors — raising concerns about Russia’s intent.
Russian surface ships are slowly becoming a common sight in British waters.
There is a war raging in the Atlantic
Last November, Russia’s Yantar spy vessel was seen “lurking around pipelines and internet cables” in the Irish Sea.
Intelligence also suggests that yachts owned by oligarchs may have been used for underwater spying probes.
Military chiefs are now drawing up plans to launch “Operation Atlantic Bastion”, which would deploy air, land and sea assets to patrol UK waters and the North Atlantic.
An MoD spokesman said: “We are committed to enhancing the security of critical offshore infrastructure.
"We are strengthening our response to ensure that Russian ships and aircraft cannot operate in secrecy near the UK or near Nato territory, harnessing new technologies like AI and co-ordinating patrols with our allies.
"And our continuous at-sea nuclear deterrent continues to patrol the world’s oceans undetected, as it has done for 56 years."
