A recent sighting of a Russian nuclear submarine off the coast of the United Kingdom prompted an emergency defence meeting.
The incident comes amid escalating tensions between Russia and the West, particularly over the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
The Kazan, a state-of-the-art Yasen-class vessel, is capable of carrying cruise missiles and torpedoes. An RAF Poseidon P8 anti-submarine aircraft dropped sonar buoys to detect subsurface activity at depth, leading to its detection.
The submarine’s presence near the UK coast has raised alarm bells among NATO leaders, who fear that it may be probing for weaknesses in the alliance’s perimeter.
Intelligence immediately informed the UK’s Permanent Joint Headquarters in Northwood of the situation and briefed both the Prime Minister and Defence Secretary on the matter.
This incident comes on the heels of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s promise to “punish” the West for providing long-term missiles and a £40 billion loan to Ukraine using frozen Russian assets.
The US NATO Ambassador, Julianne Smith, has also indicated a potential policy shift that could allow the Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) to target Russian mainland sites.
The Russian submarine’s detection near the UK coast has sparked concerns about the potential for a nuclear confrontation between Russia and the West.
