The Royal Navy intercepted a Russian warship and tanker off the UK coast in a «round-the-clock shadowing operation» within the past fortnight, the Ministry of Defence announced on Sunday. The action follows revelations that Russian spy ship Yantar attempted to jam British military GPS systems and directed military-grade lasers at RAF pilots.
HMS Severn tracked the warship RFN Stoikiy and tanker Yelnya as they sailed through the Dover Strait and westward through the English Channel. The patrol ship maintained continuous monitoring before handing over to a NATO ally off the coast of Brittany, France.
The interception comes amid escalating Russian provocations in UK waters. The spy ship Yantar has been lurking on the edge of British territorial waters for weeks, conducting what Defence Secretary John Healey described as «deeply dangerous» operations.
GPS jamming and laser attacks
The Yantar attempted to disrupt GPS systems on HMS Somerset while the Royal Navy frigate was tracking the vessel. Only civilian-grade GPS systems were reportedly impacted, as military systems are encrypted and almost impossible to jam.
Commercial vessels, including fishermen operating near the Yantar, are also believed to have experienced system disruption. Defence sources told the Telegraph the jamming constituted «more low-level disruption, causing a nuisance».
The spy ship also «directed lasers» at RAF P-8 Poseidon reconnaissance aircraft in what Healey called an unprecedented escalation. The vessel is operated by Russia's elusive deep-sea research unit GUGI and is suspected of mapping vital undersea infrastructure, including internet cables that carry 99 percent of all global internet traffic.
Strong warning to Putin
Healey issued a direct message to Russian President Vladimir Putin at a news conference in Downing Street last Wednesday. «We see you. We know what you are doing. And we are ready,» the Defence Secretary said.
He described the Yantar as «designed for gathering intelligence and mapping our undersea cables» and 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.»
Healey announced changes to the Navy's rules of engagement to allow closer tracking of Russian vessels. «We have military options ready should the Yantar change course,» he said.
The Defence Secretary characterized the operations as a «demonstration of a British readiness to act, a British capability to act». He added: «It isn't just a naval operation - it's part of a Russian programme... that is designed to have capabilities which can undertake surveillance in peacetime and sabotage in conflict.»
Sharp increase in Russian activity
Russian vessels threatening UK waters have increased by 30 percent in the past two years. This marks the second time this year the Yantar has been sighted near Britain.
Last November, the spy ship was sent packing after loitering over critical undersea infrastructure off the coast of Cornwall. It was seen again in January.
In recent weeks, HMS Duncan tracked the Russian destroyer Vice Admiral Kulakov, while HMS Iron Duke monitored the Russian Kilo-class submarine Novorossiysk. The MoD said UK forces are now patrolling «from the English Channel to the High North».
Britain deployed three RAF P-8 Poseidon aircraft to Keflavik Air Base in Iceland for surveillance operations as part of NATO's collective defence in the North Atlantic and Arctic.
Russian denial and UK criticism
The Russian embassy in the UK dismissed the accusations, insisting the Yantar is a «research ship in international waters». Russia accused the British government of «provocative statements» last week.
A group of MPs on the Defence Select Committee criticized the government last Wednesday for moving at a «glacial» pace on defence preparedness. The committee warned the government lacks a national plan to defend itself from attack and has failed to initiate the «national conversation on defence and security» promised by Prime Minister Keir Starmer last year.
A Downing Street spokesman said: «Our position on Russian interference is clear» but declined to comment on diplomatic conversations.
Note: This article was created with Artificial Intelligence (AI).
