A Royal Navy submarine compelled a Russian surveillance vessel to withdraw from UK waters in a bold demonstration of military resolve, as disclosed today by Defence Secretary John Healey.

Healey informed Parliament that he authorized a mission targeting the Russian vessel Yantar, which had been lingering near critical underwater infrastructure. The vessel hastily retreated to the Mediterranean following the unexpected appearance of the submarine during an operation in the North Sea last November.

Since then, Yantar has been closely monitored by Royal Navy ships and RAF patrol aircraft. Currently, the ship is navigating back through the English Channel, once again under the watchful eyes of British warships.

This incident marks yet another episode of suspicious activity involving Russian naval vessels near UK territories.

In December, almost 200 Royal Navy sailors were called back from their holiday leave to track Russian warships identified in the North Sea and the Channel. The HMS Somerset frigate set out on December 27 to monitor the movements of the RFS Soobrazitelny corvette and two accompanying support ships, MV Sparta II and MV General Skobelev, over a 500-mile stretch.

Addressing the Commons, Healey stated: “I wanted to send a clear message to President Putin: we are aware of your actions, and we will take firm measures to safeguard our nation.”

He revealed that the Yantar had been detected near vital underwater infrastructure, prompting a decisive response. “To deter any potential threat, I deployed RAF maritime patrol aircraft alongside HMS Cattistock, HMS Tyne, and RFA Proteus to closely track the vessel’s movements.

“Additionally, I authorized a Royal Navy submarine to surface near Yantar as a visible signal that we had been covertly monitoring its activities. This act led the ship to leave UK waters and head to the Mediterranean without further incident.”

Healey clarified that the Yantar is recognized as a Russian intelligence-gathering vessel, likely used to map underwater infrastructure essential to the UK’s security. He reported that it had entered the UK’s exclusive economic zone approximately 45 miles off the British coastline before its departure.

Shadow Defence Secretary James Cartlidge endorsed the government’s transparency in addressing the Russian naval threat.

“The opposition stands united with the government in handling these provocations,” Cartlidge stated. “We support this openness because it’s vital for our military readiness and public understanding of the Russian threat. It’s also critical in justifying the necessary investment in our defense capabilities.”

Cartlidge further praised adjustments to the Royal Navy’s rules of engagement, emphasizing that they send a strong warning to Russia: “We will not tolerate intimidation, and any attempts to escalate malign activities in our waters will be met with decisive action.”


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