UK Defense Secretary John Healey said the Russian surveillance ship Yantar was on the edge of British waters and aimed a laser beam at Royal Air Force (RAF) pilots.
Minister Healey held a press conference on UK defense investment ahead of next week’s Budget announcement.
In his speech, Healey pointed to growing threats to his country’s security and stressed that the UK is therefore increasing spending on defense.
Russian surveillance ship aimed a laser beam at RAF pilots
Healey also commented on the threat from Russia as follows:
“The Russian surveillance ship Yantar has been in open waters in the UK for the past few weeks, off the border with Scottish waters in the north. This vessel is designed to gather intelligence and map our undersea cables. To track and monitor its every move, we engaged a Royal Navy frigate and RAF aircraft. At this time, the Yantar directed a laser beam at our pilots.”
Stressing the extreme danger of Russia’s actions, Healey said the Yantar had entered UK waters for the second time this year.
“My message to Russia and (Russian President Vladimir) Putin is: we see you, we know what you are doing, and if the Yantar is on heads south this week, we will be ready,” he said.
If a Russian spy ship heads towards UK shores, our military options are ready.
After his speech, a British minister answered questions about whether this was the first time a Russian ship had targeted RAF pilots with a laser, how dangerous it was and how the UK government would respond.
Healey said: “Obviously, anything that gets in the way is a concern. or endangers the pilots of British military aircraft, is extremely dangerous. This is the first time we have heard of the Yantar carrying out such an action against the RAF. We take this matter extremely seriously.”
The Minister added that the British Navy had changed the rules of engagement: “This way we will be able to monitor the Yantar’s activities more closely and track it when it is in more distant waters. If the Yantar changes course, we will have the military ready. options.”
Healey said that for security reasons he would not disclose details of these options.
In a statement to the British Parliament on January 22, Healey said that the Russian surveillance ship Yantar entered the UK’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) on January 20 and stayed there for two days.