Britain warns Putin after Russian spy ship returns to UK waters
The British warship HMS Somerset conducted surveillance on the Yantar near UK waters earlier this week.
The UK’s defence secretary said the Royal Navy was monitoring a Russian spy ship after it entered UK waters earlier this week.
John Healey said the Yantar was being used to gather intelligence and map vital UK underwater infrastructure.
He said the incident was “another example of increased Russian aggression”.
“I also want President Putin to hear this message: we see you, we know what you are doing and we will not hesitate to take strong action to protect this country,” Haley added.
Russia says the Yantar is an oceanographic research vessel operated by the Russian Ministry of Defence.
Western countries often track the ship as it sails in European waters and suspect part of its mission is to map undersea cables.
They also believe its activities have intensified since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
In addition to surveillance equipment, the ship can also operate drones that can reach the seafloor.
Undersea infrastructure is vital for delivering energy through cables and pipelines, while more than 95% of internet traffic is also protected through undersea cables.
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Healy said Yantar is currently in the North Sea, has passed through British waters and was spotted 45 miles off the UK coast in the English Channel on Monday.
“The Royal Navy has deployed HMS Somerset and HMS Tyne to conduct a minute-by-minute surveillance of the vessel in our waters over the past two days,” he said.
“I have changed the Royal Navy’s rules of engagement so that our warships can better approach and track Yantar. So far, the ship has been complying with international navigation rules.”
The Defence Secretary said this was the second time the ship had entered UK waters in recent months, with Yantar being spotted “lingering near key UK submarine infrastructure” in November last year.
He said a Royal Navy submarine was allowed to surface near the Yantar, a highly unusual move.
Haley called the move a “strong deterrent” and “made it clear that we are secretly monitoring their every move”.
Defence sources told the BBC that the ship also received a verbal warning.
“The ship then immediately left UK waters and sailed into the Mediterranean,” Healey added.
Healey said the government was working with NATO allies to strengthen its response to Russian naval activity.
He said the Royal Air Force would provide surveillance aircraft to join NATO’s deployment to protect critical infrastructure in the Baltic Sea.
It comes after an undersea cable between Estonia and Finland was sabotaged in December last year, with Finnish police investigating whether a Russian ship was involved.
Shadow defence secretary James Cartledge said the Conservatives were “unanimously behind” the government’s strategy and “transparency” in response to the Russian naval threat.
He also welcomed changes to the Royal Navy’s rules of engagement, adding: “This sends a strong signal to Putin that we will not be intimidated and if his intention is to continue to push the boundaries of our waters and malicious activity in those waters and get closer to us, we will respond.”
Cartledge said Russia’s activities showed why defense spending should be increased as soon as possible.
