UK says Russian vessel used lasers on RAF pilots as monitoring efforts intensify

The UK government has accused a Russian intelligence vessel of pointing lasers at Royal Air Force pilots who were tracking its movements near British waters. Defence Secretary John Healey described the incident as deeply dangerous and said the actions of the ship, known as Yantar, are being taken extremely seriously. According to officials, the vessel has been operating north of Scotland and recently entered UK waters for the second time this year.

Healey said the UK is closely monitoring the Yantar and has military options prepared if the ship changes course toward more sensitive areas. Addressing Russia directly, he said the UK is fully aware of the ship’s activities and is ready to respond if needed. The defence secretary added that the laser incident took place while the ship was being followed by a Royal Navy frigate and RAF Poseidon P 8 aircraft. The episode is believed to have occurred in the last two weeks.

Speaking at a news conference in Downing Street, Healey said he has updated Royal Navy rules of engagement to allow closer tracking of the Yantar whenever it operates within wider UK waters. He explained that the ship, which entered service in 2015, belongs to Russia’s Main Directorate for Deep Sea Research. This organisation is responsible for surveillance activities during peacetime and potential sabotage operations during conflict.

Healey refused to detail the possible military responses, saying disclosing them would only benefit Russian President Vladimir Putin. When asked about the risks posed by lasers, he said anything that interferes with or endangers British military pilots is extremely serious.

The Yantar has already drawn attention earlier this year when it was spotted near UK waters in January. Tracking data from Marine Traffic suggests the vessel has not broadcast its location since early November, when it was last detected in the Baltic Sea north of Latvia. The Dutch Navy reported escorting the ship out of the North Sea on November six after it approached Dutch territorial waters.

Although the Yantar’s exact location remains unclear, flight tracking data from FlightRadar24 shows an RAF Poseidon P 8 flying patterns off the Scottish coast. It is unknown whether this activity is related to the Russian ship. Russia describes the Yantar as an ocean research vessel, but Western governments suspect it is used to survey undersea cables and other sensitive infrastructure.

Security analyst Elisabeth Braw said the use of lasers represents a clear escalation intended to disrupt RAF air crews. She noted that even if the lasers did not injure pilots, the act was highly provocative.

The incident comes amid broader concerns about Russian activity around vital offshore cables, pipelines and communication links. Healey also warned about wider global security challenges, including Russian incursions into NATO airspace, rising tensions with China and ongoing conflicts worldwide.

The Ministry of Defence is facing criticism from MPs for relying heavily on US support and not being fully prepared to defend the UK independently. The committee urged European NATO members to increase their capabilities.

Healey said the government remains confident in America’s commitment to NATO but agreed that the UK must accelerate its own defence efforts. This comes as Britain negotiates with the European Union to allow UK defence companies to participate in a new EU defence loan scheme worth one hundred fifty billion euros.

Talks are ongoing, and Healey said the UK wants to be involved, but only if the financial terms offer good value for both taxpayers and industry.