UK Prepares Military Response Options Against Russian Spy Ship Yantar After Laser Incidents

Defence Minister John Healey declared on Wednesday that Britain has "military options ready" should the Russian intelligence vessel Yantar pose a threat, following incidents where the ship directed lasers at RAF pilots monitoring its activities.

The Royal Navy and Royal Air Force regularly conduct surveillance of potential security threats, with such monitoring missions of Russian vessels and submarines increasing significantly since Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

Healey emphasized that targeting RAF pilots with lasers was "deeply dangerous" and confirmed that Britain stands prepared to take action depending on the Yantar's subsequent movements.

The Russian spy ship, designed for intelligence collection and mapping underwater cables, is currently positioned near the edge of British territorial waters north of Scotland.

"This marks the first instance of such hostile action from Yantar directed against British RAF personnel. We are treating this matter with extreme seriousness," Healey stated.

The Defence Minister also revealed he had modified the navy's rules of engagement to permit closer following and more comprehensive monitoring of the Yantar's activities when operating in Britain's broader territorial waters.