Russia rejects the statement of British Defense Secretary John Healey that Russian submarines are posing a threat to the submarine cable system in the Atlantic.
Russia is not threatening underwater infrastructure, which is vital to the United Kingdom. We also do not use aggressive statements in this matter," the Russian Embassy emphasized.
At a press conference in London on April 9, British Defense Secretary Healey said that 3 Russian submarines had been operating for nearly 1 month in the northern Atlantic, then left due to actions by the British armed forces. He accused these ships of participating in activities targeting important underwater infrastructure, but without causing damage.
The Russian Embassy also expressed skepticism: "Clearly, neither can this statement be believed nor can it be verified. It seems that is its purpose.
The Russian diplomatic agency emphasized: "As a country with a long history of maritime presence in the most remote areas of the world's oceans - often without invitations, even going against the wishes of local people, Britain seems particularly sensitive to the presence of Russian ships in international waters.
Russian diplomats also reiterated that "the responsibility for the real attack on undersea infrastructure - specifically the Nord Stream sabotage - lies with Western countries. This issue has not yet been resolved".
In another development related to UK-Russia relations, the Daily Telegraph reported that the United Kingdom has not arrested any Russian ships due to concerns about violations of international maritime law.
According to international legal regulations, inspecting a foreign ship requires a very high legal threshold. Functional agencies must provide clear legal basis for each case, and at the same time prove that the ship is trying to evade UK sanctions.
The Daily Telegraph article said that the Attorney General of England and Wales Richard Hermer has given a legal opinion that the British special forces and the UK National Crime Agency may board a Russian ship for inspection.
Previously, on March 25, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer allowed the British military to arrest ships that London believes belong to the "dark fleet" in the country's waters. According to the British Prime Minister's office, after the arrest, criminal proceedings can be initiated against the ship owner, operating unit and crew if they violate British sanctions.
The British government emphasized that it will consider each case. In total, Britain imposed sanctions on 544 ships believed to belong to Russia's "dark fleet".
In a statement on April 9, the Russian diplomatic mission in the United Kingdom also mentioned this content, noting that London has recently issued statements and threats aimed at commercial ships operating for the benefit of Russian companies and Russian partners. "It is necessary to understand that if these threats are turned into action, there will be consequences," the statement stated.
