WORLD

Russian spy ship points lasers at British pilots for first time

An image of the Russian spy ship Yantar which is operating off the northern coast of Scotland, is shown on a screen during Defense Secretary John Healey's speech on how the U.K.'s defense industry is delivering growth and national renewal across the U.K., at No 9 Downing Street in central London on Wednesday. | REUTERS

By Ellen Milligan
Bloomberg

Nov 20, 2025

A Russian spy ship on the edge of U.K. waters pointed lasers at British pilots for the first time in a "deeply dangerous” escalation, Defense Secretary John Healey revealed as he warned of military options if the vessel travels further.

Yantar — designed to gather intelligence and map Britain’s undersea cables — entered U.K. wider waters over the last few weeks and is currently located north of Scotland, Healey told a media briefing on Wednesday in Downing Street. It was the second time this year that the ship had been deployed to U.K. waters.

Healey said a Royal Navy frigate and maritime patrol aircraft will track the vessel and Britain stands "ready” if it travels south this week. The lasers appeared designed to distract British surveillance aircraft.