Russia Deploys Spy Subs, Seeks Oligarch Cash as Ukraine War Grinds On

Russia Deploys Spy Subs, Seeks Oligarch Cash as Ukraine War Grinds On Russia is intensifying its long-term campaign against the West while scrambling to fund its protracted war in Ukraine, according to multiple Western governments and financial reports. The moves include covert submarine operations targeting vital undersea infrastructure and direct appeals from President Vladimir Putin to the country's oligarchs for war donations. The United Kingdom's Defence Secretary, John Healey, revealed that Russian submarines were recently detected actively spying on undersea pipelines and communication cables in the Atlantic Ocean near British waters [125390][124898]. While no damage was reported, officials stated the operation is part of a long-term strategy to gather intelligence on, and potentially threaten, critical infrastructure that forms the backbone of global internet and energy supplies [125390]. Concurrently, the Kremlin is facing growing financial strain from the war. President Putin has personally asked wealthy Russian oligarchs for direct donations to support the military budget, according to a report by the Financial Times [112938]. This unusual request underscores the pressure on state finances, which are burdened by a surging defence budget—up 42% last year—and a widening deficit exacerbated by sanctions that force Russia to sell oil at a discount [112938]. Analysts note that Putin appears committed to a prolonged conflict, showing no urgency to negotiate a peace deal from what he perceives as a position of battlefield strength [17045][17910]. This resolve persists despite the economic difficulties, pointing to a strategy that prioritizes long-term geopolitical aims over immediate financial stability [17910]. In a related diplomatic maneuver, Russia is employing a two-track messaging strategy, analysts say. To European leaders, Russian officials deliver aggressive rhetoric blaming the West for the war, while simultaneously sending a different message to Washington, asking for sanctions to be lifted and seeking to calculate financial losses from halted trade [82150]. This approach is seen as an attempt to create divisions among Ukraine's allies. The Kremlin has also leveraged major international treaties as pressure tools. A recent analysis states Russia is using the New START nuclear arms control treaty, which expires in 2026, as a bargaining chip to distract the United States and deter it from supporting a Ukraine peace settlement [60361]. Russia Deployed Submarines to Target Atlantic Cables, UK Reveals Putin's Spy Subs Caught Targeting UK Pipelines Putin Seeks Oligarch Donations to Fund War as Defence Budget Strains Russia Holds Advantage, In No Rush on Ukraine Deal, Expert Says Putin Signals Long War in Ukraine Amid Economic Strain Russia's Dual Strategy: Talk War with Europe, Talk Trade with America Russia Uses Nuclear Treaty as Bargaining Chip on Ukraine, Analysts Say