I have to wonder what that 'heavier and more focused response' might be. If it's just taking those freighters away, the muskovites might decide that a freighter for an undersea cable is a good exchange.
Back in the 80s I read some pretty convincing stuff that the USSR had the capability to put devices on cables deep underwater (well below anchor cable depth). I ran it past a couple of ex-Navy divers I sometimes went diving with - and they were pretty sure that was right - but they both figured it was a SigInt thing. Gotta wonder if they can still do that and if they can what's clamped onto cables now, if it's explosive...
OTOH, there's a *lot* the USSR mil could do that the RF just can't anymore, and their navy seems to *not* be where they've been putting funds.