The UK confirmed it is shadowing Russia’s spy vessel Yantar with allied forces, signaling readiness to counter any potential threat near British waters. A Russian spy ship was on the edge of United Kingdom waters, British defense officials said. John Healey, the U.K.’s defense secretary, said it was the second time the ship, the Y, had been deployed to U.K. waters. ‘This is a vessel designed for gathering intelligence and mapping our undersea cables,’ he said during a news conference. ‘We deployed a Royal Navy frigate and RAF planes to monitor and track this vessel’s every move, during which the Yantar directed lasers at our pilots.’
Healey warned Russian President Vladimir Putin, saying, ‘We see you, we know what you’re doing and if the Yantar travels south this week, we are ready.’ The U.K. plans to build a number of factories to make munitions and military explosives. The first one is expected to break ground next year. The Yantar isn’t just part of a naval operation but part of Moscow’s Main Directorate of Deep-Sea Research, or GUGI, which primarily works in surveillance in peacetime and sabotage during conflicts. ‘That is why we’ve been determined. Whenever the Yantar comes into British wider waters, we track it, we deter it, and we say to Putin, ‘We are ready, and we do that alongside allies,’ said Healey.
He issued his warning after a report by the Commons Defence Committee, which said the U.K. ‘lacks a plan for defending the homeland and overseas territories’ and urged the government to launch a ‘coordinated effort to communicate with the public on the level of threat we face.’ The U.K. has also been tracking the Yantar’s activities as part of its broader strategy to monitor Russian naval movements in the region. The UK’s actions are part of a wider NATO effort to respond to potential threats from Russia, which has recently been involved in several incidents near NATO territories, including the recent reported strikes near the Romanian border in Ukraine.
In addition to the Yantar, the UK is also monitoring other Russian military assets, including the reported presence of four Russian spy planes near Alaska, which has led to the U.S. scrambling fighter jets to track their movements. The combined efforts of NATO and its member states reflect a growing concern over Russia’s military activities and the potential for escalation in the region. As tensions continue to rise, the UK and its allies are preparing for all scenarios, emphasizing their readiness to defend national interests and ensure regional security.