A Russian “spy ship” has been tracked by the Royal Navy passing through British waters in “another example of growing Russian aggression”.
Yantar, an intelligence ship belonging to Moscow, entered the UK exclusive economic zone about 45 miles off the British coast on Monday, John Healey said.
“Let me be clear, this is a Russian spy ship used for gathering intelligence and mapping the UK’s critical underwater infrastructure,” the Defence Secretary told the House of Commons on Wednesday.
Mr Healey said he had changed the Royal Navy’s rules of engagement so that HMS Somerset and HMS Tyne could monitor Yantar closely for the past two days.
He also said he had authorised a Royal Navy submarine to surface close to the vessel “to make clear that we had been covertly monitoring its every move”.
The Yantar then left UK waters “without further loitering” and sailed down to the Mediterranean, he added.
‘Putin, we see you’
Mr Healey said: “I won’t comment further on reasons for operational security but I want to thank all the personnel involved for their dedication and their professionalism
“I also want president Putin to hear this message. We see you. We know what you are doing, and we will not shy away from robust action to protect his country.
“And with our Nato allies, we are strengthening our response to ensure that Russian ships and aircraft cannot operate in secrecy, secrecy near the UK or near Nato territory.
“This is another example of growing Russian aggression, targeting our allies abroad and us at home.”
It is the second time Yantar has entered UK waters in recent months after it was monitored off the South West coast of the UK and along Norway’s shoreline in November.
“In November, the ship was also closely watched and detected loitering over UK critical undersea infrastructure to deter any potential threat,” Mr Healey said.
Tories ‘shoulder to shoulder’ with approach
James Cartlidge, the shadow defence secretary, said he supported the Government’s openness surrounding how it planned to tackle the Russian naval threat.
Mr Cartlidge said the Conservative opposition stood “shoulder to shoulder” with Labour regarding their approach.
He said: “We welcome that transparency because it is critical for our war readiness... that as far as we are able, and without compromising our national security and operational security, we tell the British public the truth about the serious nature of the Russian threat and what that will inevitably mean for public expenditure on defence.
“I specifically welcome the change to the Royal Navy’s rules of engagement. This sends a powerful signal to Putin that we will not be intimidated and that if his aim is to keep pushing the boundaries of malign activity in our waters, and those proximate to us, we will respond.”
Russian aggression grows
Other Russian vessels have also been recently monitored in UK waters.
In November, RFS Admiral Golovko, a Russian Navy warship equipped with hypersonic missiles, was reported to be conducting drills in the Channel. The same month, a cargo ship with Russian links – the MV Ruby – dumped 300 tons of toxic fertiliser into the North Sea.
In September, Novorossiysk, a Russian Kilo-class submarine, passed through the Channel and the North Sea, forcing the Royal Navy to deploy a warship to shadow it.
Russia’s growing aggression comes amid concerns about the future of the UK’s military spending. Labour has said it aims to increase defence spending to 2.5 per cent of GDP after the completion of the sector-wide Strategic Defence Review (SDR).
The SDR will look at how best to tackle international threats amid the challenges posed by the countries such as China, Russia and Iran. It was expected to report in the first half of 2025 but industry figures fear that the review could be delayed to the autumn.