Russian Spy Ship Targets UK Aircraft With Lasers Near Scotland : UK

The British government has confirmed that a Russian spy vessel operating near UK waters north of Scotland used low-powered lasers against a Royal Navy maritime patrol aircraft, in what officials describe as a dangerous and deliberate act of harassment.

UK Defence Secretary John Healey revealed the incident in Parliament, stating that British forces tracking the Russian research vessel Yantar were “targeted with lasers” while conducting routine surveillance. The Ministry of Defence later published its findings on X, confirming that the vessel had spent “considerable time in or near British territorial waters” close to the northern tip of the British Isles.

Laser Incident Sparks Security Concerns

According to the MoD’s report, crew members aboard the Yantar directed low-powered lasers at a Royal Navy P-8 Poseidon Maritime Patrol Aircraft. The aircraft had been deployed to monitor the vessel’s movements after intelligence suggested it was operating near sensitive undersea infrastructure.

While the laser was not strong enough to permanently damage sensors or injure the crew, officials emphasised that any laser targeting of aircraft is considered hostile interference. The MoD condemned the action as “unacceptable, irresponsible, and escalatory.”

Russian Vessel Suspected of Mapping Undersea Cables

The Yantar’s presence has alarmed security officials because the vessel is widely believed to conduct seabed mapping and surveillance activities for Russia’s military intelligence services. Of particular concern is its proximity to undersea telecommunications cables — critical infrastructure that carries vast amounts of internet traffic, financial transactions, and global communications.

The MoD confirmed that Yantar's return represents the second Russian spy-ship incursion into UK waters this year, raising fears of a broader campaign targeting NATO undersea networks.

To counter the threat, the Royal Navy deployed the Type 23 frigate HMS Somerset (F82) to shadow the vessel continuously. Officials say Yantar’s activities suggest an effort to create detailed maps of undersea cable routes, which could allow Russian forces to tap or sabotage them during future conflicts.

Yantar: A ‘Research Vessel’ With Intelligence Capabilities

Though officially listed as a “research vessel,” the Yantar is the lead ship of Russia’s Project 22010 class — a fleet widely understood to perform intelligence operations. Over the past decade, Yantar has been tracked conducting suspicious activities across the Atlantic, North Sea, and Barents Sea, often near NATO infrastructure or communication cables.

The ship is equipped with:

• Multiple radomes for signals intelligence

• A suite of deep-sea sensors

• Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs) capable of reaching and manipulating objects on the seabed

• Advanced surveillance equipment for subsea mapping

Its home port is Severomorsk, headquarters of Russia’s Northern Fleet, from where it routinely sails south into waters around Europe.

The MoD released an official photo of HMS Somerset shadowing Yantar during a separate incursion early in 2025 — part of what UK officials call “persistent Russian probing” of European undersea infrastructure.

Part of a Wider Russian Espionage Campaign

Western intelligence agencies believe the Yantar’s activities are not isolated. Instead, they form part of a multi-layered Russian spying campaign across Europe and the North Atlantic.

Recent incidents include:

• Suspicious drones spotted near military bases and energy facilities in multiple NATO countries

• Shadow-fleet vessels — commercial ships operating with their transponders turned off — loitering near undersea cables

• The Eagle S tanker, seized by Finnish authorities in 2024, suspected of involvement in a Baltic Sea cable-cutting incident

• Multiple surveillance breaches targeting airfields, ports, and energy terminals across Northern Europe

In September, Germany deployed the frigate Sachsen (F220) to Denmark to help monitor potential incursions, after reports that shadow-fleet ships may have deployed drones to observe NATO infrastructure.

British officials say Russia is likely attempting to build a comprehensive picture of NATO’s critical undersea networks — knowledge that could be exploited in a crisis.

UK Response and International Alarm

The British government has vowed to strengthen surveillance of its northern maritime approaches and improve protection of seabed communications infrastructure. John Healey told MPs that the UK would “not tolerate any attempt to intimidate or disable our forces,” and pledged closer coordination with NATO partners.

Security analysts warn that undersea cables have become a strategic vulnerability, carrying over 95% of global data. Disruptions could cripple financial markets, military communications, and civilian networks.

NATO has already announced the expansion of its Seabed Infrastructure Protection initiative, with several allied navies adjusting deployments to monitor Russian movements more closely.

The laser incident involving the Yantar highlights intensifying tensions between Russia and NATO at sea. As Moscow steps up its surveillance of undersea networks, the UK and its allies are responding with heightened vigilance — turning the waters north of Scotland into a new centre of strategic competition.