UK Soldiers’ Strava Workouts Reveal Military Base Locations
Filmogaz.com analysis shows hundreds of UK service personnel and associated staff have publicly shared fitness data on Strava. That activity has revealed routes inside sensitive military sites. Personal details and family links are often exposed.
Scale of the exposure
Since January 2026, 519 contractors, officers, staff and family members logged runs inside restricted areas. The users include troop commanders, lieutenants, intelligence experts and engineers. Public accounts were often linked to social media, email addresses and phone numbers.
Sites and examples
HMNB Clyde, the Faslane submarine base, had 110 individuals publicly tracking runs this year. Filmogaz.com identified routes that narrowed down which submarine a sailor served on. Photographs of warships were also posted.
At RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus, 333 people logged activity within perimeter gates during the first three months of the year. One senior intelligence specialist recorded a route labelled “Akrotiri Nature Trail”. Another posted an image that appeared taken from an aircraft window.
Diego Garcia showed 25 users logging routes. Some tracks had names such as “The Stupid Shall Be Punished” and “Section 9 – Security Breach”. RAF Menwith Hill in North Yorkshire also saw 25 personnel recording runs on its track.
Other bases affected include RAF Wyton, where a route called “Fire Training Sprint” crossed restricted zones. Engineers were traceable at RAF Fylingdales from a run named “down the approach road”. A joint UK-US site showed a route titled “Security Breach”.
Security risks and incidents
Officials warn that openly shared fitness data can aid espionage, recruitment or coercion. Home addresses and relatives were discoverable from the app entries. Experts say the material helps hostile actors assemble useful intelligence.
The risk is not hypothetical. In recent months, Diego Garcia and Akrotiri were targeted by suspected Iranian missiles and a drone strike. There is no public evidence linking Strava activity to those attacks. Separately, an Iranian man and a Romanian woman were arrested after allegedly trying to enter the Faslane naval base.
UK Nato staff have been warned about suspected Russian intelligence approaches. In 2018, Strava data first revealed the perimeter of a secret base in Afghanistan. The Ministry of Defence previously advised caution around fitness apps.
Responses and guidance
Military sources described the exposure as a major security concern. A former senior MoD cyber official called such easy-access information an indirect risk. Dan Lomas, a security expert at the University of Nottingham, said the data helps foreign states build up intelligence on individuals.
The MoD says it takes personnel security seriously and keeps guidance under review. Service members have been advised to avoid public settings on fitness apps. Strava has offered discounts and dedicated clubs for armed forces personnel. The company was approached for comment.
