Oligarch yachts tied to Russian espionage in British seas, officials say

British defense officials have uncovered suspected Russian spy devices in the waters surrounding the UK

The discovery comes amid intelligence suggesting oligarch-owned superyachts may have aided Russian

efforts to monitor nuclear submarines and critical infrastructure, part of what officials describe

as a growing campaign of underwater espionage. The Royal Navy discovered some devices during

operations while others washed ashore, according to the Sunday Times. Officials believe Russia

planted them to track the UK's nuclear-armed Vanguard submarines, which maintain the country's

continuous at-sea deterrent. British military sources cited in the report say the findings

reflect a broader Russian campaign of underwater espionage that includes the use of unmanned

vehicles and deep-sea submarines. The UK Defense Ministry has not publicly disclosed the locations

of the sensors but maintains the country's nuclear deterrent remains undetected. In addition

officials suspect Russian oligarch superyachts have conducted recognizance near UK ports The Times reports that some yachts carried moon pools or underwater access hatches which crews could have used to

deploy surveillance equipment. One former minister recalled a 2018 incident where a British warship

left port in Cyprus after a nearby superyacht raised suspicion of intelligence gathering

The Royal Navy has increased surveillance, deploying the deep-sea vessel RFA Proteus to monitor threats

The ship has tracked the Russian spy vessel Yantar multiple times. Yantar is capable of interfering with undersea cables

To counter the threat, the Ministry of Defense is investing in unmanned submarines, surveillance drones

and partnerships with private industry to better protect infrastructure. Officials say these actions reflect Russia's broader gray zone strategy

covert operations designed to avoid direct conflict while destabilizing Western security. For more of our unbiased straight fact reporting

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