00:00I'm doing this to expose the continuing Russian activity that threatens us in the UK.
00:04A vessel is directed by President Putin to conduct hybrid warfare activities against the UK and our allies,
00:13ensured that the Russian submarines were monitored 24-7.
00:18I'm revealing details of a recent military operation undertaken by Russia.
00:22And in doing so, I'm doing this to expose the continuing Russian activity that threatens us in the UK,
00:30and to highlight our constant readiness to respond.
00:35In the last few weeks, while the eyes of many were trained on the Middle East,
00:40the UK, in partnership with Norway and other allies,
00:45have responded to increased Russian activity in the Atlantic, north of the UK.
00:52This operation involved a Russian Akula-class attack submarine
00:57and a concurrent deployment of two specialist submarines from Gugi.
01:02That's Russia's main directorate for deep-sea research.
01:07And last November, I outlined how these Gugi units, including the spy ship Yantar,
01:13are vessels directed by President Putin
01:16to conduct hybrid warfare activities against the UK and our allies,
01:23specifically around critical undersea infrastructure.
01:28And for the first time today,
01:30we're releasing images of the Gugi base and of these vessels.
01:36They're designed to survey underwater infrastructure during peacetime
01:41and sabotage it in conflict.
01:45In response to the Russian submarines,
01:47I can confirm that I deployed our armed forces
01:49to track and to deter any malign activity by these vessels.
01:55A Royal Navy warship and Royal Air Force P-8 aircraft alongside allies
02:02ensured that the Russian submarines were monitored 24-7.
02:08The Akula submarine subsequently retreated home,
02:12having been closely tracked throughout,
02:14and we continue to monitor the two Gugi submarines
02:17in and around wider UK waters.
02:21Our armed forces left them in no doubt that they were being monitored,
02:26that their movements were not covert as President Putin planned,
02:30and that their attempted secret operation had been exposed.
02:35Those Gugi submarines have now left UK waters and headed back north.
02:40And this operation, which lasted more than a month, has now concluded.
02:46Our aircraft flew over 450 hours.
02:50Our frigate covered several thousand nautical miles,
02:55and 500 British personnel were involved in the response.
02:59And I'm making this statement to call out this Russian activity.
03:05And to President Putin, I say,
03:07we see you, we see your activity over our cables and our pipelines,
03:12and you should know that any attempt to damage them
03:16will not be tolerated and will have serious consequences.
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