UK ‘ready to act’ as Russian spy ship approaches British territory

Britain’s Defense Minister warned Russia that the British navy was ready to deal with a spy ship that approached its territorial waters north of Scotland.

Defense Secretary John Healey said Wednesday that the Russian ship Yantar had directed lasers at surveillance aircraft pilots monitoring its activities.

“My message to Russia and Putin is this: We see you. We know what you are doing,” he said.

British officials said the Yantar is part of the Russian navy, designed to carry out peacetime surveillance and wartime sabotage.

Because of this, the United Kingdom and its allies track the ship and work to deter its operations whenever it approaches British territorial waters.

“It is part of a Russian fleet designed to put and maintain our submarine infrastructure and that of our allies at risk,” Healey said, referring to alleged sabotage of cables on the ocean floor.

This is not the first time the Yantar has explored British defences.

After a warning last year, the Yantar left UK waters for the Mediterranean.

When the Russian ship later sailed through the English Channel in January, it was followed by HMS Somerset, a frigate assigned to national defense in the waters surrounding Britain.

West takes action against Russian company behind cyber attacks

Healey outlined Yantar’s activities during a speech in which he said the UK must adapt to a “new era of hard power”.

He cited the conflict in the Middle East, problems between India and Pakistan and Chinese spies targeting democratic institutions in the United Kingdom, as well as the ongoing war in Ukraine.

Russia’s activities globally have raised concerns, and European nations accusing the Kremlin of carrying out increasingly brazen sabotage plans in an attempt to undermine support for Ukraine.

Last week, Polish authorities accused Russia of being behind a plot to disrupt rail services using explosives and other devices.

On Wednesday, the United States, Australia and the United Kingdom announced sanctions against the Russian web company Media Land, accusing it of supporting ransomware operations.

The UK government said the sanctions exposed “illicit Russian networks enabling cyber attacks around the world” and marked the country’s latest crackdown on malicious Russian cybercrime.

Global ‘threat’ tests UK finances

Defense Secretary Mr Healey’s warning about Yantar came as he argued for greater defense spending a week before the government published its new budget.

While Prime Minister Keir Starmer has promised big increases in military spending in the face of threats from Russia, China and Iran, the government faces tough decisions as it contemplates tax rises and spending cuts to close a multi-billion pound shortfall in its finances.

In June, Britain pledged to increase defense spending to 5 percent of gross domestic product by 2035, in line with most other NATO nations. The commitment includes 3.5 percent of GDP for core defense spending, with another 1.5 percent for infrastructure projects designed to support the nation’s defense.

Last year, the UK spent around 2.3 per cent of its GDP on defence.

Healey, who will visit a drone factory on Wednesday afternoon, announced plans to build at least six new munitions factories at sites from Scotland to Wales.

In June, the government pledged 1.5 billion pounds ($3 billion) to build the plants, which it says will create at least 1,000 jobs, boost economic growth and ensure the military has a steady supply of explosives, propellants and pyrotechnics.

“This is a new era of threats. It demands a new era for defense, an era of hard power, strong allies and confident diplomacy,” he said.

“And as the threat grows, Britain must step up – and we do.”

AP/Reuters