Jens Asbjørn Bøgen
According to the secretary, the vessel is built for intelligence-gathering and cable-mapping.
A tense maritime standoff unfolded as the UK Defence Secretary disclosed that a Russian intelligence ship was sitting just beyond Britain’s northern waters, Sky News reports.
Britain has tracked the vessel for weeks, according to the government, underscoring concern about persistent Russian activity near critical undersea infrastructure.
Rising concern
Sky News cites John Healey for telling reporters in Downing Street that the ship Yantar had approached the UK’s broader waters and had been monitored by a Royal Navy frigate and RAF aircraft.
He said the vessel was built for intelligence-gathering and cable-mapping operations, and that it was the second deployment of 2025.
In a pointed message to the Kremlin, he said: “We see you, we know what you’re doing, and if the Yantar travels south this week, we are ready.”
Industrial push
His warning came as the government announced plans to revive large-scale production of explosives for the first time in decades.
The pledge to expand munitions output coincided with a stark assessment from the House of Commons defence select committee.
Its cross-party report said the UK is currently ill-equipped to repel an attack and possesses “next to nothing” in air and missile defences.
Sources: Express, Sky News, UK government statements, House of Commons defence committee report.
This article is made and published by Jens Asbjørn Bogen, who may have used AI in the preparation
