Following a laser incident targeting RAF pilots, the UK is monitoring a Russian spy ship, the Yantar, near its waters. Defence officials have expressed concern over the ship’s intelligence gathering capabilities, particularly its potential to map undersea cables. Former MI6 head Sir Richard Dearlove suggested the Navy may be prepared to take aggressive actions if the Yantar moves closer, like firing a warning shot. Russia has dismissed the accusations, claiming the Yantar is a research vessel operating in international waters, yet the UK government views the situation as a new era of threat.
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A Russian spy ship, the Yantar, has been operating near UK waters, entering the UK’s exclusive economic zone multiple times in recent weeks. During these incursions, the vessel directed lasers at British military pilots, a significant escalation according to UK officials. The UK government, considering this “deeply dangerous,” is monitoring the ship and has military options prepared. The defense secretary has also stated this is part of a pattern of Russian incursions into NATO territory, and the government is increasing defense spending in response. The Russian embassy has responded by accusing the British government of Russophobia.
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A fire aboard the aging Russian spy ship Kildin off the Syrian coast, along with recent similar incidents, highlights the Russian navy’s deteriorating condition. The incidents, occurring amidst Russia’s potential loss of its Tartus base in Syria, underscore chronic maintenance and readiness issues within the fleet. These problems are exacerbated by the smaller, less durable vessels prioritized post-Cold War, making long-distance operations challenging. Loss of Tartus would severely impact the Russian navy’s Mediterranean presence, forcing reliance on less desirable alternatives in Algeria, Sudan, or Libya, each presenting significant political and logistical hurdles.
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The Royal Navy shadowed the Russian spy ship Yantar, known for mapping critical underwater infrastructure, using submarines, warships, and aircraft. A British submarine surfaced near the Yantar to demonstrate its surveillance capabilities. This followed a November incident and a recent return to British waters, where the Yantar was closely escorted by the Royal Navy, highlighting heightened concerns about potential sabotage of undersea cables. The public release of this information serves as a deterrent against further Russian espionage targeting critical underwater infrastructure.
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The Russia-linked tanker Eagle S, detained in Finland for damaging an undersea cable, was equipped with sophisticated transmitting and receiving devices, transforming it into a de facto spy ship. This equipment, unusual for a merchant vessel, monitored NATO naval activity and was offloaded in Russia for analysis. The ship’s crew, allegedly threatened, remained silent about the espionage activities. A similar setup was also found on a related tanker, Swiftsea Rider, highlighting a pattern of potentially illicit activity within a larger fleet of Russia-linked vessels.
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The Russian-linked tanker *Eagle S*, seized by Finnish authorities for damaging an undersea cable, was equipped with sophisticated surveillance technology, transforming it into a de facto spy ship. This equipment, also found on a sister vessel, *Swiftsea Rider*, was unusual for a merchant ship and suggests deliberate monitoring of NATO naval activity. The *Eagle S*’s crew, likely aware of the spying, were allegedly threatened into silence. The tankers’ ownership is obscured through complex corporate structures, characteristic of the “dark fleet” known for circumventing sanctions.
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John Q. Hosedrinker