Key Points
- The UK confirmed the Russian intelligence vessel Yantar is operating near Scotland and tracking undersea cables.
- The Royal Navy and RAF monitored the ship after it directed light lasers at UK pilots during the operation.
The United Kingdom’s Ministry of Defence has confirmed that the Russian Navy’s intelligence vessel Yantar is operating near UK territorial waters, prompting a heightened military response amid concerns about threats to critical undersea infrastructure.
In a statement issued Wednesday morning, Defence Secretary John 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.”
The vessel, known for towing sensors capable of gathering seabed intelligence and mapping underwater communication cables, was closely tracked by the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force. “The Royal Navy deployed frigate HMS Somerset, and the Royal Air Force deployed P-8 aircraft to track the vessel’s every move,” Healey said.
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The Yantar, officially classified as an oceanographic research ship, has long been suspected of conducting covert surveillance activities, particularly involving NATO infrastructure beneath the North Atlantic.
“This is a vessel used for gathering intelligence and mapping undersea cables, dragging sensors behind it,” the Defence Secretary noted.
During the tracking operation, UK authorities reported hostile actions directed at military aircraft. “The Yantar directed light lasers at our pilots,” Healey said, referring to an incident involving RAF P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft. No injuries were reported, but the behavior was described as “unprofessional” by British officials familiar with the operation.
This is the second time in 2025 that Yantar has appeared in waters surrounding the UK. British defense officials view the vessel’s activity as part of a broader Russian campaign targeting maritime infrastructure, including subsea internet cables and energy lines.
“It is one of many Russian vessels designed to threaten our Critical Underwater Infrastructure,” Healey said.
The Royal Navy has increased surveillance of the North Atlantic and surrounding seas as part of Operation Seabed Watch, a standing effort to monitor and deter hostile activity against submarine infrastructure. UK officials have previously cited the vulnerability of subsea data cables as a growing national security concern, especially in the context of hybrid warfare.
The Defence Secretary delivered a direct warning to Moscow: “To Russia: We see you. We know what you are doing. And if Yantar travels South this week, our Forces are ready to act.”
The ship, operated by the Main Directorate of Deep-Sea Research (GUGI), a shadowy branch of the Russian Navy, is believed to carry deep-diving submersibles capable of tampering with undersea cables, as well as equipment for electronic surveillance.
