Defence secretary John Healey issued a stern warning to Vladimir Putin, after he said the Russian spy ship Yantar, operating on the edge of UK waters, directed lasers at pilots of surveillance RAF aircraft monitoring its activities. Mr Healey told a press conference on Wednesday (19 November) that the ship, designed for gathering intelligence and mapping crucial undersea cables, is loitering off the northern coast of Scotland, having entered wider UK waters over the last few weeks. A Royal Navy frigate and RAF P-8 planes were deployed to monitor and track the vessel, during which the Yantar directed lasers at RAF pilots, he added. In a message to the Russian leader, Mr Healey said: "We see you. We know what you are doing."

John Healey says the Russian ship is in waters north of Scotland and is being monitored by UK forces.

Defence secretary John Healey issued a stern warning to Vladimir Putin, after he said the Russian spy ship Yantar, operating on the edge of UK waters, directed lasers at pilots of…

LONDON: Britain warned Russia on Wednesday that it was ready to deal with any incursions into its territory after the spy ship Yantar was detected on the edge of UK waters north…

Defence secretary reveals details of recent incursions as he warns UK is facing ‘new era of threat’ from hostile countries

UK defence secretary John Healey said the Yantar directing lasers at RAF planes was a ‘deeply dangerous’ move

The vessel Yantar made its second known visit this year north of Scotland and entered British waters in the last few weeks and Britain is taking it "extremely seriously."

Defence Secretary John Healey condemns the Yantar's actions as 'deeply dangerous' and says Britain is poised to react.

Labour defence minister Al Carns told Moscow it faced ‘the firmest of responses’ if there was any attempt to damage UK infrastructure