Yantar ship: Russian spy vessel fires lasers to blind British military pilots - defence secretary warns it is 'on edge of UK waters'
A Russian spy ship has tried to blind British military pilots with lasers, the Defence Secretary has revealed.
John Healey said the Yantar vessel fired the beams of light at pilots flying an RAF P-8 Poseidon submarine hunter after the jet had been sent to monitor it. The vessel, thought to be part of the Kremlin’s “shadow fleet”, is currently being followed by a Royal Navy frigate off the coast of Scotland, Mr Healey said.
It is the second time the Yantar has visited British waters. Defence chiefs believe the ship is attempting to use its suite of sensors to spy on the UK. Giving a press conference in Downing Street, he said: "A Russian spy ship, the Yantar, is on the edge of UK waters north of Scotland, having entered the UK's wider waters over the last few weeks.
"This is a vessel designed for gathering intelligence and mapping our undersea cables. We deployed a Royal Navy frigate and RAF planes to monitor and track this vessel's every move, during which the Yantar directed lasers at our pilots.
"That Russian action is deeply dangerous, and this is the second time this year that this ship, the Yantar, has deployed to UK waters." Mr Healey added: "So my message to Russia and to Putin is this: we see you, we know what you're doing, and if the Yantar travels south this week, we are ready."