LONDON, Nov. 19, 2025 — Britain’s Defence Secretary John Healey has accused a Russian spy ship of directing lasers at RAF pilots, warning that the UK has “military options ready” if the vessel escalates its operations.
Healey said the vessel, identified as the Yantar, was operating off the northern coast of Scotland and had entered UK waters in recent weeks. He described the laser use as “deeply dangerous” and a serious escalation in maritime provocations.
According to Healey, a Royal Navy frigate and RAF P-8 surveillance aircraft were deployed to shadow the Yantar as it carried out intelligence-gathering missions — in particular, mapping undersea infrastructure. He stated that during monitoring, the ship “directed lasers at our pilots,” marking the first time the Yantar has taken such action against the RAF.
Healy made clear that Britain is prepared to respond: he has revised the Royal Navy’s rules of engagement to allow for closer tracking of the vessel, and asserted that “if the Yantar travels south … we are ready.”
The Defence Secretary tied the incident to a broader shift in global threat dynamics, saying that escalating tensions — including from Russia, China, and instability in other regions — require the UK to invest more in its military and hard power capability.
He also linked the Yantar’s mission to a wider Russian strategy. The vessel belongs to Russia’s deep-sea research unit, GUGI, which Healey claimed has capabilities to conduct both peacetime surveillance and sabotage in conflict. He warned that the UK’s undersea cables and critical infrastructure must be defended more aggressively.
The Kremlin, through its UK embassy, rejected Healey’s accusations, accusing London of “Russophobic hysteria” and asserting that its activities do not threaten British security.