A Russian intelligence vessel has reportedly deployed lasers in an attempt to disrupt Royal Air Force pilots monitoring its movements near UK territorial waters, according to the Defence Secretary.
Speaking to reporters, John Healey characterized the actions of the Yantar as “deeply dangerous,” adding that the government is treating the incident with “utmost seriousness.”
He further stated that the vessel, currently located north of Scotland, had entered UK waters on two occasions this year, including within the past few weeks.
The UK will maintain its surveillance of the ship and has “military options ready should the Yantar change course,” he affirmed.
“My message to Russia and to President Putin is clear: we are observing you. We are aware of your activities. And should the Yantar proceed southward this week, we stand prepared,” he stated.
Healey indicated that the laser incident occurred while the Yantar was being tracked by a Royal Navy frigate and RAF Poseidon P-8 aircraft, deployed to monitor the vessel’s movements. The incident is believed to have taken place within the last fortnight.
During a Downing Street press conference, the Defence Secretary disclosed that he had amended the Royal Navy’s rules of engagement to permit closer monitoring of the Yantar “when it is in our wider waters.”
Healey noted that the vessel, commissioned in 2015, is affiliated with Russia’s Main Directorate for Deep Sea Research (GUGI), an entity reportedly tasked with “conducting surveillance in peacetime and sabotage during conflict.”
“We have military options prepared should the Yantar alter its trajectory. I will not disclose these options, as that would only benefit President Putin,” he stated.
When questioned about the potential risks posed by lasers, Healey responded, “Any action that hinders, disrupts, or endangers the pilots of British military aircraft is profoundly dangerous.”
The Russian Embassy issued a statement asserting that it has “no interest in British underwater communications.”
The statement continued, “The actions of our country do not impinge upon the interests of the UK, nor are they intended to undermine its security.”
It further added, “However, London’s Russophobic course and escalating militaristic rhetoric contribute to the deterioration of European security, potentially creating new and hazardous situations.”
“We urge the British side to refrain from any destructive actions that could exacerbate the ongoing crisis on the European continent.”
Labour MP Matt Western, chair of the Joint Committee on the National Security Strategy, remarked, “Today’s news underscores that Russia poses a real and immediate threat to the UK’s security.”
He added, “I commend the Defence Secretary’s serious approach to this issue, but further action is warranted. A more assertive response may be necessary.”
The Defence Secretary previously issued a warning regarding the Yantar’s presence in UK waters in January, describing it as “another instance of escalating Russian aggression.”
According to the ship tracking website Marine Traffic, the vessel has not transmitted its location since November 2nd and was last tracked in the Baltic Sea, north of the Latvian coast.
On November 6th, the Dutch Navy reported that two of its vessels escorted the Yantar out of the North Sea, where it was operating near Dutch territorial waters.
While the Yantar’s current location remains unclear, the flight tracking website FlightRadar24 indicates that an RAF Poseidon P-8 surveillance aircraft is circling off the Scottish coast, though it is uncertain whether this is directly related to tracking the Yantar.
Russia identifies the Yantar, operated by its Ministry of Defence, as an oceanic research vessel. Western nations have consistently monitored its activities in European waters, suspecting that its mission includes mapping undersea cables.
Elisabeth Braw, a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council, an American security think tank, characterized the Yantar’s use of lasers as “an escalation, without question.”
“The intention is to impede the pilots from carrying out their duties,” she told BBC Radio 4’s World At One.
“While the precise intensity of the lasers remains unknown, even if they did not result in the pilots’ blindness, the act was undoubtedly provocative,” she added.
The UK and its NATO allies have expressed concerns regarding the risk Russia poses to offshore cables, pipelines, and other critical infrastructure essential for internet connectivity.
In his address, the Defence Secretary cautioned against Russian incursions into NATO airspace and highlighted the threats posed by China and armed conflicts globally, adding, “Our world is evolving. It is becoming less predictable and more dangerous.”
Separately, the Ministry of Defence has faced criticism from a parliamentary committee for its over-reliance on US defense resources and perceived lack of preparedness to defend the UK and its overseas territories from military aggression.
The committee asserted that the UK and its European allies should bolster their capabilities in anticipation of a potential US withdrawal.
Healey stated that the UK government “holds a differing viewpoint” from the committee regarding America’s commitment to NATO.
However, he acknowledged that the committee was “correct in asserting” that Britain should “accelerate our commitment,” a course of action the Labour government has been pursuing since assuming power last year.
The report coincides with ongoing negotiations aimed at securing an agreement with the EU to enable British defense companies to participate in projects funded by a new €150 billion (£130 billion) EU defense loan scheme, scheduled to launch next year.
The Labour government aims to finalize an agreement in the coming weeks, allowing British companies to partake in the initial round of bids from EU countries, with submissions due by the end of this month.
Healey told reporters that the UK is interested in joining the program, but not “at any cost,”amid reports that the two sides are at odds over the membership fee that the UK could pay to enable British firms to take part.
Reports indicate that the EU is requesting a membership fee amounting to billions of euros before the UK can participate.
He added that any financial contribution to participate would have to be “good value for money for our taxpayers and our industry”.
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