"It's not enough to say we see you and then let almost on the same day, let a Russian shadow tanker bimble down the channel", argued Mr Wallace — Speaking to BBC Radio 4, Ben Wallace warned that simply intercepting vessels is not enough, adding: "We've got to show Russia we have a follow-up" (Picture: MOD)

Navy

Wallace: UK risks being laughed at by Putin if it fails to act after latest Russian incursions

Former Defence Secretary Ben Wallace has warned that the UK "risks being slightly laughed at by Putin" if it fails to act decisively in the wake of yet more Russian incursions into British waters.

His remarks to BBC Radio 4 follow the unveiling of a month-long operation monitoring a Russian attack submarine and two spy submarines from the Kremlin's Gugi programme in the North Sea before they withdrew.

In a separate update, the MOD said the Royal Navy had completed 10 days of operations monitoring Russian warships and a submarine in British waters.

UK playing catch-up

Mr Wallace said that the UK is vulnerable in the face of Moscow's Gugi capability – a secretive military programme that answers to the highest level of the Russian state, specialising in surveillance, reconnaissance and clandestine operations.

"Our navies have effectively diminished over the last 30 to 40 years, while at the same time, this organisation [Gugi] has never stopped growing," he warned.

He added they now have an impressive capability, "and we're all trying to play catch-up."

While he acknowledged there may be elements of deterrence not being disclosed by the MOD, he emphasised "we've got to show Russia we have a follow-up".

"It's not enough to say we see you and then let, almost on the same day, let a Russian shadow tanker bimble down the channel."

His words referenced the recent sighting of suspected shadow fleet oil tankers Universal and Enigma, which passed through the English Channel, closely followed by the frigate Admiral Grigovich, on 8 April.

As reported by The i Paper, the Universal sailed past the English coast carrying "military-relevant" cargo for the direct use of Russia's army, and marks at least the sixth incident of a vessel of this significance being escorted by a Kremlin warship in the past twelve months.

"Despite the Prime Minister's statements, he's going to do something about the shadow fleet; nothing at all is done," said Mr Wallace.

Sir Keir Starmer previously announced new powers that will allow British forces the authority to halt, board and detain sanctioned vessels from Russia's suspected shadow fleet. Despite this, those powers have yet to be utilised.

"We risk being slightly laughed at by Putin if we're just all words and no action," he added.

RFA Tideforce (background) monitors the Russian frigate Admiral Grigorovich (Picture: MOD)

Separately, it was announced on 9 April, that the Royal Navy had mounted a 10-day operation to monitor Russian vessels in British waters.

Portsmouth-based HMS Mersey worked with a Wildcat helicopter to report on the movements of Admiral Grigorovich, Aleksandr Shabalin, a Ropucha-class landing ship, and Krasnodar, a Kilo-class submarine.

Elsewhere, HMS Somerset, a Type 23 frigate, intercepted Severomorsk, a Russian Udaloy-class destroyer, and Kama, an accompanying oiler, near the coast of Brittany, France.

'We're ready to take action'

Despite criticism of the Royal Navy's current state and readiness, Defence Secretary John Healey, speaking at the London Defence Conference, said the month-long operation demonstrates that the UK Armed Forces are ready to meet these sustained threats.

He said it involved around 500 UK personnel, with aircraft logging more than 450 flight hours, and a Royal Navy warship covering several thousand nautical miles.

"This was a big operation, alongside allies, particularly our Norwegian colleagues, to track, to deter and then to call out what Putin was trying to do as a secret submarine operation," he said.

"I hope it's also a reassurance to the public that whilst people are rightly concerned about the conflict in the Middle East, we're not taking our eyes off Putin."

He added that the operation demonstrated the UK Armed Forces' capabilities to track and deter, and if necessary, respond.

Healey: Month-long Russian submarine operation highlights the UK's readiness

Elsewhere, Defence Minister Luke Pollard appeared on BBC Breakfast and was asked if President Donald Trump's jibes that the Royal Navy is "too old" and dismissing its aircraft carriers as "toys" were warranted.

He replied: "No, we've got a strong Royal Navy...we're adding to that Navy with new autonomous capabilities, creating a hybrid Navy.

"Our Royal Navy, the Air Force and other military units have been involved in monitoring and deterring Russian submarine activity against our undersea cables in the Atlantic."

Mr Pollard added that the UK has a "unique convening role" that it can use to bring its friends and allies together to work out military and non-military solutions to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.