Headline: Russian spy vessel 'near UK waters' accused of firing lasers at British aircraft
Caption:
A Russian spy ship that has been accused of firing lasers at British aircraft is on the edge of UK waters, Defence Secretary John Healey has announced.
John Healey said it was the second occasion this year that the ship, the Yantar, had approached UK waters. It was previously spotted in 2024, when these images of it were taken.
Speaking at a news conference in Downing Street, Healey said: "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.
"This is a vessel designed for gathering intelligence and mapping our undersea cables.
"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.
"That Russian action is deeply dangerous, and this is the second time this year that this ship, the Yantar, has deployed to UK waters."
Healey added: "So my message to Russia and to Putin is this: we see you, we know what you're doing, and if the Yantar travels south this week, we are ready."
In 2024 it was monitored in the Irish Sea by the surveillance vessel, RFA Proteus.
Keywords: russia,war in ukraine,royal navy,john healey,war,espionage,photo
PersonInImage: RFA Proteus (background) gets up close with the Russian ship Yantar (foreground), in the Irish Sea in November 2024.
