Campaigners have expressed concerns about the risks posed to Suffolk's Sizewell nuclear plants after a Russian 'spy' ship stopped at sites off the coast.
The Admiral Vladimirsky ship is believed to have stopped at wind farms off the East Anglian coast to map undersea power cables as part of plans to sabotage the UK's key energy infrastructure.
Alison Downes, from campaign group Stop Sizewell C, said she wanted to know what measures UK regulators were proposing to protect UK power plants, including Sizewell B, from attack.
READ MORE: Russian spy ship reportedly stopped off by Suffolk coast
She said: "The route chosen by this Russian spy ship, coming on top of Russia's attempts to weaponise the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant in Ukraine, causes us very grave concern.
"Despite the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency saying of Zaporizhzhia 'we are living on borrowed time,' we've yet to hear what new measures UK regulators are proposing to protect UK's power plants such as Sizewell B from attack".
Therese Coffey, Suffolk Coastal MP and Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, said: “I have full confidence in our Armed Forces in being alert to threats to our shores, including energy infrastructure.”
The Government has pledged £700 million towards the expected £25 billion cost of the new Sizewell C nuclear plant, which will be built close to Sizewell B and is expected to provide power for six million homes.
Broadcasters from Denmark, Sweden, Finland and Norway tracked the vessel, which sailed around the Baltic Sea and the North Sea for a month, passing current and future wind farms off the coast of several Scandinavian countries, as well as Britain.
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The broadcasters said the ship was part of a fleet of espionage boats, disguised as fishing trawlers and scientific research vessels, which were examining key energy sites for possible sabotage.
Offshore Energies UK (OEUK), the trade body for the offshore sector, said the safety of their installations was a matter of ongoing discussion with the Government.
READ MORE: Suffolk news
Operations director Mark Wilson said: "Offshore Energies UK remains engaged with relevant Government bodies, including the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero (formally BEIS); North Sea Transition Authority; Health & Safety Executive; and Police Scotland, on resilience and security of UK energy supply.
"We also operate the OEUK security committee at which relevant Government bodies provide briefings.
"The physical security of offshore and onshore energy infrastructure continues to be part of these regular engagements."
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