Brief
A Russian spy ship has been spotted close to the UK’s waters, according to British defense officials. Defense Secretary John Healey announced that this is the second time the ship, named Yantar, has entered UK waters recently.
Healey described the Yantar as a vessel used for gathering intelligence and mapping undersea cables. He revealed that the Royal Navy deployed a frigate and RAF planes to closely monitor the vessel, which reportedly directed lasers at British pilots during the encounter.
In a recent statement, Healey warned President Vladimir Putin, saying, “We see you, we know what you’re doing. If the Yantar heads further south this week, we are prepared.”
The UK government is also planning to construct several factories for defense munitions, with the first set to open next year.
Healey’s warning comes on the heels of a report from the Commons Defence Committee, which criticized the UK’s lack of a comprehensive defense strategy for its homeland and overseas territories. The committee urged the government to enhance communication with the public regarding potential threats.
The Yantar, beyond its intelligence-gathering role, is linked to Moscow’s Main Directorate of Deep-Sea Research, which engages in surveillance during peacetime and can carry out sabotage in wartime.
Healey emphasized, “That is why we stay vigilant. Whenever the Yantar operates in British waters, we track it and deter it. We are ready and working closely with our allies.”
