UK sends five-word warning to Putin as 'secret' Russian military mission exposed

UK sends five-word warning to Putin as 'secret' Russian military mission exposedThe UK has issued a stark warning to Russia after the British military tracked Russian submarines surveying vital undersea infrastructure near the UK for a monthCommentsNewsEthan Blackshaw Deputy Publishing Lead and Laura Zilincanova21:01, 16 Apr 2026View 2 ImagesThe UK has issued a stern warning to Vladimir Putin (file)(Image: ALEXANDER KAZAKOV, POOL/AFP via Getty Images)Britain today delivered a stern warning to Russia after the British military exposed a Russian submarine mission to map critical undersea infrastructure close to UK waters.‌Ambassador Neil Holland cautioned Putin "you cannot operate in secret" during a speech in Vienna on Thursday. Holland serves as Head of the UK Delegation to the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) in the Austrian capital.‌He was speaking today on behalf of the UK, Norway and the Netherlands after it emerged the UK and its allies tracked a Russian attack submarine and two spy submarines in the North Atlantic for a full month before they withdrew.‌View 2 ImagesRussia uses submarines for covert operations (file)(Image: Getty)READ MORE: Russia issues 'sleep well' strike threat to three places in UK – see full listREAD MORE: Horror as Russia 'plans nuclear weapon in space' that could cause global chaosHolland addressed the update delivered by Defence Secretary John Healey on April 9 regarding Russia's activity in the Atlantic. The month-long covert operation involved a Russian Akula-class attack submarine and two spy submarines, all of which have since retreated. Two of the vessels belonged to the Main Directorate of Deep Sea Research (known as GUGI).GUGI is Russia's long-established military programme designed to develop capabilities deployable from specialist surface vessels and submarines. During peacetime, these are used to survey underwater infrastructure, with the intention of...