U.K. Submarine Surfaces Close Russian Spy Ship in English Channel

A U.K. submarine surfaced near the Russian vessel "Yantar" in the English Channel, with two warships monitoring the situation closely, as the U.K. MoD asserted that the Russian ship was engaged in spying on undersea infrastructure.

The incident, which occurred on Monday, marked the second time in less than three months that the Russian vessel had entered U.K. waters, raising concerns over espionage targeting critical underwater cables.

Royal Navy’s Type 23 frigate closed in on Yantar’s location and intercepted it in the entrance to the Channel – south of the traffic separation scheme at Ushant, near France. The Royal Navy tracked the Yantar, an oceanographic research vessel operated by Russia's defence ministry, for several days as it navigated within the U.K.'s exclusive economic zone. The U.K. Ministry of Defence (MoD) indicated that the Russian ship had been engaged in gathering intelligence and mapping critical undersea infrastructure, including cables that connect the U.K. to Europe. This is seen as part of a broader pattern of Russian activity, with British and NATO officials concerned about potential threats to offshore pipelines, cables, and other vital assets.

The surveillance operation was authorized following an incident in November when Yantar was detected loitering over the U.K.'s undersea infrastructure. This time, the Royal Navy deployed Type 23 frigate HMS Somerset, patrol ship HMS Tyne, and a P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft to track the ship's movements. The surveillance assets were authorized to get closer to the vessel, enhancing their ability to monitor the Russian vessel's activities.

In a statement to Parliament, Defence Secretary John Healey emphasized that the U.K. would not tolerate attempts to undermine its security. He also highlighted that the rules of engagement had been adjusted to allow closer monitoring of Russian vessels, signaling a more robust response to such threats.

Healey accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of threatening European security by targeting undersea infrastructure, including cables for oil, gas, electricity, and internet. "We see you. We know what you're doing," Healey said.

The Russian vessel Yantar, spotted 45 miles off the British coast on Monday, is operated by Russia's Ministry of Defense and is known for intelligence and mapping activities. Experts believe it serves dual purposes, including intelligence gathering.

Yantar had previously been near U.K. critical undersea infrastructure and internet connectors between the U.K. and Ireland. Tracked by a submarine, warships, and patrol aircraft, the Yantar was monitored by HMS Somerset and HMS Tyne on this occasion. Cables under the Baltic Sea have been damaged three times in 18 months, with suspicions of Russian involvement.

NATO is concerned about threats to undersea infrastructure, which is hard to defend. Katja Bego from Chatham House highlighted the vulnerability of undersea cables to "deliberate weaponization" and the risk of simultaneous attacks. Healey said surveillance aircraft will be deployed to assist NATO in the Baltic and an advanced AI system will be introduced to monitor cables.