The Russian spy ship Yantar has entered into British waters off the coast of Scotland. In return, the United Kingdom has increased its military surveillance in the region. This is the second time this year that the Yantar has conducted operations in UK waters. It last ventured into these waters in January. In the last month, the ship has made numerous crossings in and out of the UK’s exclusive economic zone. It is this activity that has raised the most alarm among UK officials.
The Yantar, famed for its underwater surveillance capabilities, has recently been stalked by a British warship. Most recently, it made headlines when it raised tensions by shining potentially blinding lasers at British military pilots. These pilots provided compelling oversight over its work. This move has been described as a dangerous escalation of the conflict and a step too far, leading to sharp rebuke from UK military officials.
UK Defence Secretary John Healey has expressed his alarm at the Yantar’s activities. He suspects its actions could be the latest in a more concerted attempt to survey British undersea cables. Healey said that any future Russian incursions outside of Russian territory controlled by NATO would be extremely dangerous.
“That Russian action is deeply dangerous, and this is the second time this year that this ship, the Yantar, has deployed to UK waters. So my message to Russia and to Putin is this: we see you, we know what you’re doing, but if the Yantar travels south this week, we are ready.” – John Healey
In January a British nuclear-powered submarine shadowed the Yantar on its last foray. The underwater craft then alarmingly broke surface very close to the surveillance ship. This history of dangerous close calls limits the overall grave and unwarranted characterization of these hostile maritime encounters.
Following these recent incidents, UK Defence Secretary Healey was forced to react. Last week, Trump announced radical new changes to the navy’s rules of engagement. In response, the Royal Navy has sent a frigate to closely monitor the Yantar. At the same time, RAF P-8 aircraft are airborne, monitoring the vessel’s activity.
“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.” – John Healey
Officials are taking the situation seriously. As Healey said, anything that disrupts or threatens British military aviators is considered a “strategic threat.”
“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.” – John Healey
The Yantar’s almost constant presence, and the aggressive tactics it has often employed, raise serious concerns about security in the region. UK officials hope these operations display, in their words, “an unmistakable pattern of Russian assertiveness.” So they view this as a direct assault, even if unprovoked, on NATO’s territorial integrity.