UK's Arctic defence gaps leave it exposed to Russian attacks, MPs warn

Commons committee cites shortages of warships and submarines, putting undersea cables and Atlantic supply routes at risk

By LineZotpaper

Published22 October 2026

Read Time2 min

The UK has "glaring gaps" in its ability to defend the Arctic, leaving it vulnerable to potential Russian attacks, a report by the Commons Defence Committee has warned. The committee said a shortage of Royal Navy warships and submarines was exposing critical infrastructure in the High North, including undersea cables and energy supplies, and in a conflict Russia could threaten the UK's population, infrastructure and vital Atlantic supply routes from the US.

The Commons Defence Committee said Russian submarine activity in the North Atlantic is now back to the same levels as the Cold War era, and MPs highlighted a "shockingly low availability" of submarines alongside a temporary loss of ability to operate beneath Arctic ice.

"Russia can then use the ice to conceal and protect its own submarines while threatening Nato sea lanes, UK critical infrastructure and the UK's nuclear deterrent," the report said.

Committee chair Tan Dhesi said the Arctic was "a demanding, hostile environment, and one that our greatest adversary, Russia, is seeking to dominate for military advantage." The work to address the gaps "cannot start soon enough," he added.

The Ministry of Defence said it was "clear-eyed about the threat Russia posed" and was investing heavily to protect Britain's undersea cables. An MoD spokesperson said the UK-led Joint Expeditionary Force (Jef), a coalition of northern European nations, was already "strengthening Nato's northern flank and increasing our ability to respond rapidly to emerging threats."

The report said that, given uncertainty over US support for Nato, the UK should consider whether the Jef should focus more on the High North.

Shadow minister for war readiness Stuart Anderson said: "If Nato could be at war with Russia as soon as 2030, as the former prime minister warned, that means time is just as important as money. To deter war we must be ready for it, that means spending money now, not kicking the can down the road until it's too late."

Analysis

Why This Matters

The High North has become central to UK defence concerns, with the MoD reporting Russian submarine activity in the North Atlantic at Cold War-era levels.
The committee warns Russia could use Arctic ice to shelter its submarines while threatening Nato sea lanes, UK critical infrastructure and the UK's nuclear deterrent.
With questions over US support for Nato, the report raises the possibility of reshaping the UK-led Joint Expeditionary Force toward Arctic defence.

Background

The Arctic and adjacent High North waters are strategically important for submarine operations, undersea cables that carry global communications, and energy infrastructure. Former prime minister Sir Keir Starmer has previously warned that Russia could attack Nato by the end of the decade. The Commons Defence Committee report is the latest in a series of warnings about the UK's military readiness in this region.

Key Perspectives

Commons Defence Committee: The UK has glaring capability gaps, including shockingly low submarine availability and a temporary inability to operate beneath Arctic ice. Chair Tan Dhesi says work to fix this cannot start soon enough. Ministry of Defence: The UK is clear-eyed about the Russian threat and is investing heavily in protecting undersea cables, while the Jef is already strengthening Nato's northern flank. Conservative shadow minister Stuart Anderson: Time is as important as money, and spending must happen now to deter war, rather than being delayed until it is too late.

What to Watch

Whether the government responds with new funding or capability commitments for Arctic and submarine operations.
Any decision to give the Joint Expeditionary Force a greater High North focus in light of US support uncertainty.
Further official assessments of Russian submarine activity and its impact on Nato sea lanes and undersea infrastructure.

Sources

UK's gaps in Arctic defence leave it open to Russian attacks, committee warns · BBC News

Checked

11 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 8 supported.

Show each claim

Partly supportedThe UK’s Arctic defence gaps leave it exposed to Russian attacks.BBC News: “The UK has "glaring gaps" in its ability to defend the Arctic region, leaving it vulnerable to potential Russian attacks”
Partly supportedShortages of warships and submarines put both undersea cables and Atlantic supply routes at risk.BBC News: “a shortage of Royal Navy warships and submarines was leaving the country's critical infrastructure in the High North, including undersea cables and energy supplies, exposed. In the event of a conflict, the report added that Russia could threaten the UK's population, civilian and military infrastructure and vital supply routes across the Atlantic from the US.”
SupportedThe report described the UK’s Arctic defence capability as having “glaring gaps”.BBC News: “The UK has "glaring gaps" in its ability to defend the Arctic region”
Partly supportedThe committee said Russian submarine activity in the North Atlantic was back at Cold War levels.BBC News: “Earlier this year, the MoD said Russian submarine activity in the North Atlantic is now back to the same levels as the Cold War era.”
SupportedMPs highlighted a “shockingly low availability” of submarines.BBC News: “In the new report, MPs highlighted a "shockingly low availability" of submarines”
SupportedThe report said Russia could use Arctic ice to conceal and protect its submarines while threatening Nato sea lanes, UK infrastructure and the nuclear deterrent.BBC News: “"Russia can then use the ice to conceal and protect its own submarines while threatening Nato sea lanes, UK critical infrastructure and the UK's nuclear deterrent," it added.”
SupportedThe report said there had been a temporary loss of the ability to operate submarines beneath Arctic ice.BBC News: “MPs highlighted a "shockingly low availability" of submarines and said there was a temporary loss in ability to operate them beneath Arctic ice.”
SupportedTan Dhesi described the Arctic as a demanding, hostile environment that Russia was seeking to dominate for military advantage.BBC News: “Chair of the Defence Committee, Tan Dhesi, said: "This is a demanding, hostile environment, and one that our greatest adversary, Russia, is seeking to dominate for military advantage."”
SupportedThe Ministry of Defence said it was clear-eyed about the threat Russia posed and was investing heavily to protect Britain’s undersea cables.BBC News: “The Ministry of Defence (MoD) said it is "clear-eyed about the threat Russia posed" and is investing heavily to protect Britain's undersea cables.”
SupportedThe MoD said the JEF was strengthening Nato’s northern flank and increasing the UK’s ability to respond rapidly to emerging threats.BBC News: “An MoD spokesperson said the Jef was already "strengthening Nato's northern flank and increasing our ability to respond rapidly to emerging threats".”
SupportedThe report recommended that the UK consider whether the JEF should focus more on the High North, given uncertainty over US support for Nato.BBC News: “In light of uncertainty over US support for Nato, the report said the UK should consider whether the British-led Joint Expeditionary Force (Jef), a UK-led military coalition of northern European nations, should focus more on the High North.”