Russian spy ship Yantar stalks UK waters near Isle of Man
The Russian spy ship Yantar has been sighted in British waters near the Isle of Man in the Irish Sea. British services are closely watching the vessel, which is suspected of monitoring underwater infrastructure.
According to reports from the "Express," Yantar, often described by Western intelligence as a spy ship, was spotted in British territorial waters. A P-8A aircraft is observing the ship.
Earlier, the 107-metre vessel sailed through the English Channel.
The Royal Navy has confirmed the presence of the Russian ship and is tracking its movements. In a statement, it emphasised: "The UK military routinely monitors UK territorial waters and the adjacent sea areas to ensure compliance with maritime law, to deter malign activity and to protect our national interests."
Before entering British waters, Yantar was sailing off the coast of Norway, near Andøya Space Port. During this time, the US and Norwegian armed forces conducted exercises involving USS Harry S Truman personnel.
Yantar entered service in 2015 and has often been observed near important underwater telecommunications routes and infrastructure. As a mothership for specialised submersibles, it can operate at depths of up to 6,000 metres, allowing it access to telecommunications cables worldwide.
The United States claims to have recently observed increased activity by the Russian navy around key underwater cables. These cables account for most of the digital communication and financial transactions worth over €9.5 trillion daily. Hundreds of underwater cables span the seas and oceans worldwide, with the Atlantic Ocean and the North Sea being particularly vulnerable. The critical underwater infrastructure is largely unprotected, and its exact location is publicly available, which poses a potential target for the Kremlin.
