The United Kingdom issued a sharp warning to Russia today after the spy ship Yantar was detected skirting UK waters north of Scotland. UK Defence Secretary John Healey said the vessel had aimed lasers at pilots of surveillance aircraft monitoring its movements. He stressed that Britain understands the ship’s intentions and stands ready to respond if it moves south.
UK officials describe the Yantar as a Russian navy vessel built for peacetime surveillance and wartime sabotage, prompting close tracking by Britain and its allies whenever it nears territorial waters. Mr. Healey alleged that the ship forms part of a fleet capable of threatening undersea infrastructure, a concern heightened by recent attacks on Baltic pipelines and cables.
