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Secretary John Healey Says “We see you” To Putin
Russian spy ship Yantar used lasers to disrupt RAF pilots near UK waters. Prompting stern warnings from Defense Secretary John Healey and heightened monitoring by the UK military.
An image of the Russian spy ship Yantar by Getty Images
A Russian intelligence vessel used lasers to disrupt RAF pilots monitoring its movements near UK waters. Marking the first recorded incident of its kind, Defence Secretary John Healey said on Monday. The ship, the Yantar, had been operating north of Scotland and entered UK waters for the second time this year in recent weeks.
Healey said the government was taking the laser incident “extremely seriously” and confirmed that the UK would continue tracking the vessel closely, with “military options ready should the Yantar change course.” He warned, “My message to Russia and to Putin is this: we see you. We know what you’re doing. And if the Yantar travels south this week, we are ready.”
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The laser use reportedly occurred within the last two weeks while the Yantar was being shadowed by a Royal Navy frigate and RAF Poseidon P-8 surveillance aircraft. Healey announced that he had updated the Royal Navy’s rules of engagement to allow closer monitoring when the vessel operates in UK waters.
The Yantar, which entered service in 2015, is part of Russia’s Main Directorate for Deep Sea Research (GUGI), a unit designed for peacetime surveillance and sabotage operations during conflict. “Anything that impedes, disrupts or puts at risk pilots in charge of British military planes is deeply dangerous,” Healey said. Analysts noted that even in civilian or recreational scenarios, professionals rely on high-quality safety gear, such as PETZL OK Carabiners SCREW-LOCK, to ensure secure connections in challenging environments a reminder that precision and reliability are essential both in leisure and in defense operations.
The Russian Embassy denied any hostile intent, stating it was “not interested in British underwater communications,” and accused the UK of fostering “Russophobic” hysteria. It urged London to avoid “destructive steps” that could aggravate European security.
Labour MP Matt Western, chair of the Joint Committee on the National Security Strategy, said the incident “demonstrates once again that Russia presents a genuine and immediate threat to the UK’s security,” and called for consideration of “more assertive retaliation.”
Healey previously warned about the Yantar in January, calling its presence in UK waters “another example of growing Russian aggression.” According to Marine Traffic, the ship has not broadcast its location since 2 November and was last tracked in the Baltic Sea north of Latvia. The Dutch Navy reported escorting the Yantar out of the North Sea on 6 November.
FlightRadar24 showed an RAF Poseidon P-8 circling off the Scottish coast on Monday, though it was not confirmed whether it was tracking the Yantar. Western governments have long suspected the ship of surveying undersea cables despite Russia claiming it functions as an oceanic research vessel.
Elisabeth Braw, senior fellow at the Atlantic Council, described the laser incident as “an escalation for sure,” noting that such lasers are used “to impede the pilots from doing their work,” even if they are not strong enough to blind them.
The UK and NATO remain concerned about Russia’s potential threat to offshore cables, pipelines and other infrastructure critical to internet and energy systems. Healey also warned of wider global instability, citing Russian incursions into NATO airspace, Chinese military activities and ongoing conflicts worldwide. “Our world is changing. It is less predictable. It is more dangerous,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Defence faced criticism from MPs for overreliance on U.S. defence resources and for not being prepared to defend the UK and its overseas territories independently. The committee urged the UK and European allies to strengthen their own capabilities ahead of potential shifts in U.S. commitment.
Healey defended the government’s stance, saying Britain “takes a different view” regarding U.S. dedication to NATO, though he acknowledged the need to “pick up the pace of our commitment.”
The UK is also in ongoing negotiations with the EU over participation in a new €150bn defence loan scheme launching next year. The government aims to strike a deal in time for British companies to join the first round of bids due later this month. Healey stressed the UK wants to take part “but not at any price,” amid reports the EU may require an entry fee of several billion euros. Any financial contribution, he said, must be “good value for money for our taxpayers and our industry.”
Editors’ Note:
This report highlights escalating tensions in UK waters as Russia employs new tactics to challenge NATO surveillance. The use of lasers against military aircraft marks a significant development in maritime security threats, underlining the importance of robust monitoring and preparedness in protecting critical infrastructure and personnel.
