Britain to Russia: ‘War act’ possible cut of critical submarine communication cables

The head of Britain’s armed forces warned Russia that any attempt by Moscow to cut off critical submarine communications cables could be considered an act of war, in an interview with the Times of London.

Admiral Sir Tony Radakin, 56, the new Chief of Defense Staff, has expressed concern about Russia’s growing submarine activity.

“There has been an unprecedented increase in Russian submarine and submarine activity over the last 20 years,” Radakin told the Times.

As he stated, the submarine program is “something more than submarine”. It is a possibility “to endanger and possibly exploit the real information system of the world, which is the submarine cables that run through it”.

“Mostly information travels there. Russia has developed the ability to endanger these submarine cables and possibly exploit these submarine cables,” said Radakin, the first Navy chief to assume the post here. and 20 years. Asked if the destruction of the cables would be considered an act of war, he said: “Possibly, yes”.

Cables transmit almost all of the Internet data traffic. Many of those serving Britain are located in the Atlantic, where more and more Russian submarines are active.

Speaking about Ukraine ahead of talks between Russia, the United States and NATO next week, he said the situation there was “deeply worrying” and revealed that he had given “military options” to ministers to respond to an invasion. Russia, without saying who they were.

Radakin, who had a rare telephone conversation with his Russian counterpart, General Valery Gerasimov, late last month, said: “There will be talks next week, but from a military point of view the whole situation is deeply worrying.”

He also outlined plans to develop supersonic missiles to compete with Russia’s growing military might. “We do not have them and we must have them,” he said.

The three areas where Moscow invests significantly

Radakin said Moscow was investing heavily in three areas: underwater programs, “super” missiles such as supersonic and long-range missiles, and “denial-of-access” systems in which it created “bubbles” in places such as the Kaliningrad blockade. Baltic, where air defense systems make it impossible for aircraft from other countries to fly near them.

Navy sources said that by destroying the cables, Russia could destroy a country’s economy: “In a third world war, would that be a particularly good way to make our lives difficult? Yes. That’s why. they are doing it”.

“If you remove the cables, no one can make phone calls, they can no longer make business deals, buy shares and the economy will stop.” The source said they could be blown up and cut.

Radakin’s comments on the submarine cables follow a warning from his predecessor, Air Force Chief of Staff Sir Stuart Peach, who said in 2017 that vital communications cables crossing the seabed were “vulnerable” to Russian military means.

British ships and other means have taken over the protection of cables from Russian submarines in areas such as the North Atlantic. This week it was reported that HMS Northumberland, a Type 23 frigate, had been trying to locate a Russian submarine in late 2020 amid concerns that it was trying to locate submarine cables when the submarine collided with the warship’s sonar.

Last month, Russia launched a test launch of about ten new Tsirkon supersonic missiles from a frigate and two more from a submarine. This week, North Korea also claimed to have successfully tested a supersonic missile, while China has also tested supersonic missiles.

Read also:

* Russia – West: Everything on the table for Ukraine