Russian spy ship on ‘the edge of UK waters’ directs lasers at pilots
A Russian spy ship operating on “the edge of UK water” has been direct a laser at pilots in a surveillance aircraft who are monitoring the Yantar.
The Defence Secretary said that the UK “is ready” to respond with “military options” is the Russian ship, Yantar heads south.
The Russian spy ship was built for gathering intelligence and can map underwater sea cables, the Yantar is currently of the northern coast of Scotland.
John Healey told a Downing Street press conference on Wednesday, “We deployed a Royal Navy frigate and RAF P-8 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. This is the second time this year that this ship, the Yantar, has deployed to UK waters.
“My message to Russia and to Putin is this: We see you. We know what you’re doing. If the Yantar travels south this week, we are ready.”
He added, “It is part of a Russian fleet designed to put and hold our undersea infrastructure and those of our allies at risk.
“It isn’t just a naval operation. It’s part of a Russian programme driven by what they call the Main Directorate of Deep-Sea Research, or GUGI, and this is designed to have capabilities which can undertake surveillance in peacetime and sabotage in conflict.”
The incident of the laser being used on pilots happened within the past two weeks.
The Defence Secretary @JohnHealey_MP this morning confirmed that 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 used for gathering intelligence and mapping… pic.twitter.com/GO6LXVAfgU
— Ministry of Defence 🇬🇧 (@DefenceHQ) November 19, 2025
Healey said, “Clearly, anything that impedes, disrupts or puts at risk pilots in charge of British military planes is deeply dangerous.
“This is the first time we’ve had this action from Yantar directed against the British RAF.
“We take it extremely seriously. I’ve changed the navy’s rules of engagement so that we can follow more closely, monitor more closely, the activities of the Yantar when it’s in our wider waters.
“We have military options ready should the Yantar change course. I’m not going to reveal those, because that only makes president Putin wiser.”
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