Russian ‘spy ship’ gathering intelligence on UK’s underwater infrastructure
Statement from Secretary of Defence comes after two high-profile events where undersea cables have allegedly been targeted
The vessel has sailed through the English Channel twice since November, disabling its AIS for parts of the voyage in both instances
A RUSSIAN “spy ship” has sailed through British waters twice since November to gather intelligence and map the UK’s critical underwater infrastructure, Defence Secretary John Healey told the House of Commons on Wednesday.
Over the past two days the Royal Navy has deployed ships to monitor Russia-flagged Yantar (IMO: 7524419), as it sailed through and along the UK’s exclusive economic zone.
Yantar, which is owned by the US sanctioned Yuzhmorgeologiya Association, is directly linked to the Russian navy, according to security experts.
Yantar reportedly complied with the international rules of navigation while it was being tracked in British waters.
This is the second time in recent months that Yantar has passed through the channel, having sailed a similar route in November, during which it loitered over UK critical undersea infrastructure.
In both cases the ship disabled its Automatic Identification System off the coast around Plymouth, according to Lloyd’s List Intelligence vessel-tracking data.
Healey says that the UK, along with allies within Nato, are working to prevent Russian vessels and aircraft from operating “in secrecy” near the UK or Nato territory.
The statement follows on from two high-profile allegations of cable cutting, one in the Gulf of Finland and the other off the coast of Taiwan.
A Russia-linked dark fleet* tanker is at the heart of the former incident and is under investigation for suspected sabotage.
Healey shared a message for Russian President Vladimir Putin: “We see you, we know what you’re doing and we will not shy away from robust action to protect this country.”
The last AIS position received for Yantar was last night, January 21, while the vessel was sailing north.
* Lloyd’s List defines a tanker as part of the dark fleet if it is aged 15 years or over, anonymously owned and/or has a corporate structure designed to obfuscate beneficial ownership discovery, solely deployed in sanctioned oil trades, and engaged in one or more of the deceptive shipping practices outlined in US State Department guidance issued in May 2020. The figures exclude tankers tracked to government-controlled shipping entities such as Russia’s Sovcomflot, or Iran’s National Iranian Tanker Co, and those already sanctioned.
