UK undersea cables worth £7.4 trillion a day under ‘real threat’ from Russia

Lord West of Spithead said undersea cables and pipelines could be vulnerable to hostile activity

Lord West of Spithead, former head of the Royal Navy

(PA Archive)

The UK’s vast web of undersea cables, interconnectors and pipelines are under a “very real and present threat” from Russia, a former Navy chief told Parliament.

Lord West of Spithead warned the Government that cables crucial to communication systems around the world are potentially vulnerable to hostile activity, which could cause “major damage to our nation”, including cutting financial activity of up to £7.4 trillion per day.

His comments came amid reports of increased Russian submarine activity thought to be involved in cable-mapping in preparation for war with Nato, in which targeting this infrastructure could help Vladimir Putin inflict maximum damage.