British Navy Warships Closely Shadow Russian “Spy Ship” in UK Waters

(DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA) – The British Royal Navy has deployed two warships, HMS Somerset and HMS Tyne, to monitor a Russian “spy ship,” the Yantar, as it entered the United Kingdom’s waters.

The presence of the Yantar in UK waters has heightened concerns about the security of Europe’s undersea cables, which are critical for communications and energy and are increasingly feared to be vulnerable to Russian subversive activities.

UK Defence Secretary John Healey stated that the Russian vessel is suspected of being on a mission to “gather intelligence on critical infrastructure” within the UK.

This marks the second time in three months that the Yantar has been detected in British waters.

Healey accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of targeting Europe’s vital underwater infrastructure, including oil, electricity, gas, and internet cables, as part of efforts to threaten regional security.

“We know what you [Russia] are doing,” the Defence Secretary asserted.

The Yantar, officially designated as a marine research vessel, was located approximately 70 kilometers off the UK coastline, well within the country’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

Healey described the ship as a “Russian spy vessel” and noted that its movements in November last year near critical UK infrastructure had already raised alarms.

The ship was later tracked moving into Irish waters east of Dublin, further fueling concerns that it was gathering intelligence on internet infrastructure linking the UK and Ireland.

At the time, British submarines, warships, and maritime patrol aircraft were deployed to monitor the vessel.

“British submarines surfaced near the Yantar to send a clear message that its activities were being closely observed,” Healey disclosed.

In its most recent incursion, the Yantar was shadowed by HMS Somerset and HMS Tyne, with British warships maintaining close surveillance to ensure the vessel did not linger near sensitive areas.

This development comes amid heightened fears following multiple incidents of undersea cable damage in the Baltic Sea over the past 18 months.

In one such case, an energy cable linking Finland and Estonia was damaged on Christmas Day last year, reportedly by the anchor of the Cook Islands-registered tanker Eagle S.

The incident prompted NATO nations to increase naval patrols in the region.

While responsibility for the incident remains unconfirmed, UK Defence Secretary Healey suggested that many observers suspect involvement by Russia’s “shadow fleet.”

The UK and NATO allies remain deeply concerned about threats to undersea infrastructure, which they consider critical yet difficult to defend.

These concerns have intensified since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

The Yantar, operated by the Russian Navy under the Main Directorate for Deep-Sea Research, is officially classified as a marine research ship but is equipped with advanced capabilities for underwater missions, including submarine rescue operations.

– DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA