Security experts have warned that Britain lacks sufficient military capability to protect undersea cables in its waters from potential Russian attack, following a foiled attempt by Moscow to test a covert sabotage technology. The incident, involving submersibles from Russia's GUGI undersea warfare directorate, was intercepted by a joint UK, Norwegian and US operation that tracked and confronted the vessels before they withdrew. The episode has intensified concerns that Russia is escalating a "shadow war" against Europe, with critical infrastructure increasingly seen as a target.

Journalist and security expert Philip Ingram said the UK is "woefully short" of the power needed to stop a determined Russian attack, despite Moscow retaining what he called its most professional military capability in its submarine fleet. Chatham House associate fellow Keir Giles warned that subsea cable interference is just one option among many available to Russia, citing a pattern of assassinations, Novichok and Polonium-210 poisonings, suspected sabotage, and unexplained drone activity over military sites across the UK, Ireland, Germany, Denmark and Sweden. Both experts called for a tougher Western response, including greater sanctions and support for Ukraine, warning that without a change in approach civilian casualties from such incidents are "more or less inevitable".