Russia has deployed fishing trawlers to secretly map undersea cables connecting Britain, Europe, and the United States, according to a new investigation. The surveillance campaign reportedly spans more than 500 separate incidents.
The cables carry roughly £65 billion in annual UK economic activity. Disrupting them could knock out banking systems, halt transport networks, and sever mobile phone data across continents.
The Telegraph identified what it calls “commercial proxies,” civilian vessels pressed into espionage duty. This approach aligns with a 2022 maritime doctrine signed by President Vladimir Putin that authorizes mobilizing fishing boats and other non-military ships for state operations.
Maritime law restricts how naval forces can confront civilian ships in international waters. That legal gray zone gives Moscow a strategic advantage. The UK government announced a crackdown in response, promising prison sentences and unlimited fines for anyone convicted of sabotaging undersea infrastructure.
Investigators tracked 17 specific vessels engaging in suspicious behavior. One ship spent 113 hours surveying nine different cables. Another lingered over the trans-Atlantic Hibernia Express cable for 42 minutes while moving at less than two knots, slow enough for sonar to map the seabed.
Naval experts believe tethered remotely operated vehicles could pinpoint exact cable locations. A senior naval officer noted that one photographed vessel’s hold appeared suited for storing ROVs or uncrewed surface vehicles.
Telecoms minister Ian Murray said Britain has been “pretty clear” about Russia’s use of commercial proxies. He suggested the investigation’s publication might “deter some of those commercial proxies” working for hostile actors.
The government plans to replace the Submarine Telegraph Act 1885 with modern legislation carrying a maximum 14-year sentence for intentional cable damage. Meanwhile, the Royal Navy says it is “actively monitoring” Russian vessels at sea.
