UK Confronts Russian 'Spy Ship' Activity in British Waters

British Defence Secretary highlights increased Russian maritime presence near critical undersea infrastructure, raising security concerns.

The Russian vessel Yantar, officially labeled a research ship, was detected loitering near UK undersea communication and utility cables in November 2024.
Defence Secretary John Healey revealed that a British Astute-class submarine surfaced near the Yantar as a deterrent and later informed Parliament of the incident.
Since the start of the Ukraine war in 2022, Russian ships with military or government ties have been observed in UK waters over 40 times, with nine instances involving proximity to critical infrastructure.
The UK has launched Operation Nordic Warden, a coordinated effort with Nordic and Baltic states to monitor suspicious maritime activity using AI and regional cooperation.
Experts warn of escalating 'grey zone' activities by Russia, including espionage and hybrid tactics, as part of broader tensions with Western nations.