UK Defence Secretary John Healey announced that a Russian spy ship has entered UK waters for the second time in recent weeks.
It was also recorded that the Russian ship detected north of Scotland used a laser to obstruct Royal Air Force (RAF) pilots.
The ship named Yantar is suspected of secretly mapping the UK’s subsea data transfer cables.
UK Defence Secretary Healey said the presence of the Russian ship was being taken “extremely seriously” by the government.
Secretary Healey said, “My message to Russia and Putin is this: We see you. We know what you are doing. And if Yantar heads south, we are ready. Our military options are ready if Yantar changes course. I will not disclose them because that would only give information to Putin.”
Healey also said the laser incident was directed at RAF Poseidon P-8 aircraft deployed to the area.
It was learned that the incident occurred within the last two weeks.
Speaking at a press conference held at the UK Prime Minister’s office, the Defence Secretary also said that the Royal Navy had changed its rules of engagement.
This way, the ship named Yantar can be tracked over a wider geographical area.
It was also noted that Yantar was designed by Russia for “peacetime surveillance and wartime sabotage.”
When asked about the risks posed by lasers, Healey gave this response: “Anything that obstructs, disrupts, or risks the pilots at the controls of British military aircraft is extremely dangerous.”
The Russian Embassy issued a statement defending that “they are not interested in British underwater communications.”
The statement said, “Our country’s actions do not touch upon UK interests and are not aimed at undermining its security.”
Russia’s statement included the following expressions:
“However, London, with its Russophobic attitude and increasing militarist hysteria, is leading to a further deterioration of European security, paving the way for new dangerous situations. We call on the British side to refrain from destructive steps that could further worsen the crisis situation on the European continent.”
Labour MP Matt Western, who chairs the Joint Committee on the National Security Strategy, noted:
“Today’s news once again demonstrates that Russia poses a real and immediate threat to the security of the United Kingdom. I welcome the Defence Secretary taking this matter seriously, but there is more we can do. A more ambitious retaliation may be necessary.”
The Defence Secretary had previously issued a warning about Yantar in January after it was sighted in UK waters, describing the ship as “another example of increasing Russian aggression.”
According to the ship tracking site Marine Traffic, the ship has not published its position since November 2 and was last detected in the Baltic Sea off the coast of Latvia.
On November 6, two ships from the Dutch navy also escorted Yantar until it left the country’s territorial waters.
Russia describes Yantar, operated by the country’s Defence Ministry, as an oceanographic research vessel.
Western countries track the ship in European waters and suspect part of its mission is to map submarine cables.
The UK and NATO allies express concerns, stating that Russia poses a risk to offshore cables, pipelines, and other infrastructure critical for internet connectivity.
Source: BBC Turkish
