The UK’s Secretary of State for Defence, John Healey, has confirmed that a Russian spy ship has entered UK waters.
The ship, known as the Yantar, was initially spotted in the broader UK waters several weeks ago. It has now moved closer to the northern coast of Scotland.
Following the discovery of the ship by military forces, the UK’s Royal Air Force (RAF) and Royal Navy were dispatched to keep an eye on it. As RAF pilots approached the ship, the Yantar reportedly directed lasers at them.
In a significant speech from Downing Street yesterday (November 19), Healey addressed the issue.
“As I speak, a Russian spy ship, the Yantar, is on the edge of UK waters, north of Scotland, having entered the UK’s wider waters over the last few weeks,” he stated, according to The Guardian. “This is a vessel designed for gathering intelligence and mapping our undersea cables.”
Healey further explained: “We deployed a Royal Navy frigate and RAF P-8 planes to monitor and track this vessel’s every move, during which the Yantar directed lasers at our pilots. That Russian action is deeply dangerous, and this is the second time this year that this ship, the Yantar, has deployed to UK waters.”
Sending a strong message to Russia, he warned: “We see you, we know what you’re doing, but if the Yantar travels south this week, we are ready.”
Commenting on the lasers targeted at RAF pilots, Healey emphasized: “Anything that impedes, disrupts or puts at risk pilots in charge of British military planes is deeply dangerous.
“This is the first time we’ve had this action from Yantar directed against the British RAF – we take it extremely seriously.”
The occurrence of the Yantar in British waters coincides with the US Coast Guard’s report of another spy ship, the Russian Federation Navy Auxiliary General Intelligence ship Kareliya, being spotted near Hawaii.
Similar to the British response, the US military has been closely observing this vessel.
Capt. Matthew Chong, chief of response, Coast Guard Oceania District, stated: “The US Coast Guard routinely monitors maritime activity around the Hawaiian Islands and throughout the Pacific to ensure the safety and security of US waters.
“Working in concert with partners and allies, our crews monitor and respond to foreign military vessel activity near our territorial waters to protect our maritime borders and defend our sovereign interests.”
The presence of these ships near the UK and US coasts follows a series of sanctions imposed by both countries, along with the European Union, on Russia in response to its actions in Ukraine.
According to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), these sanctions have significantly restricted Russia’s access to at least $450 billion since February 2022.