Royal Navy submarine used to warn off Russian spy ship loitering over cables
Share:
A Royal Navy nuclear-powered submarine was used to warn off one of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s spy ships operating around UK waters. The hunter-killer submarine was ordered to surface close to the Yantar after the Russian vessel was caught loitering over critical undersea cables.
Just weeks later the Yantar returned to UK waters and the Royal Navy’s rules of engagement were changed to allow warships to sail closer to the spy vessel to monitor its activities. Defence Secretary John Healey gave details of the operations in a Commons statement.
In a direct message to Mr Putin he said: “We see you, we know what you’re doing and we will not shy away from robust action to protect this country.”. Mr Healey said the Yantar was used “for gathering intelligence and mapping the UK’s critical underwater infrastructure”.
The incident involving an Astute-class attack submarine occurred in November. Mr Healey said the Yantar “was detected loitering over UK critical undersea infrastructure” and “to deter any potential threat, I took measured steps then as part of a clear direct response to the Russian vessel”.
RAF maritime patrol aircraft, minehunter HMS Cattistock, offshore patrol vessel HMS Tyne and surveillance ship RFA Proteus were deployed “to shadow Yantar’s every movement”. Mr Healey added: “I authorised a Royal Navy submarine, strictly as a deterrent measure, to surface close to Yantar to make clear that we had been covertly monitoring its every move.
