The presence of the ship is part of Russia’s hybrid warfare strategy, aimed at exploiting vulnerabilities without crossing overtly aggressive lines.
If Taiwan faced another undersea cable cut yesterday, today the tension shifts to Europe, specifically British waters. The British government has revealed details of a mysterious Russian vessel called Yantar, which was first detected last autumn. The ship has reappeared near the UK’s undersea communications cables, this time “escorted” by a Royal Navy nuclear submarine.
Recent incursions. The UK has raised concerns about what it sees as an escalating threat from Russia. The latest incursion of the Yantar spy ship into British waters marks its second appearance in three months. Officials interpret the Kremlin’s actions as an attempt to assess the UK’s defense capabilities.
British Defence Secretary John Healey said a nuclear submarine and two Royal Navy ships monitored the Yantar’s activities for two days. The vessel, designed to gather intelligence and map critical underwater infrastructure, focused on telecommunications and power cables linking the UK to continental Europe.
This incursion comes amid heightened concerns over infrastructure security in Europe. Western intelligence agencies have warned about Russia’s use of sabotage as a bargaining tactic in the aftermath of the war in Ukraine.
Yantar and its history. The Yantar was first detected in November 2024, hovering over strategic underwater infrastructure. In response, Healey authorized a Royal Navy nuclear submarine to surface near the vessel, signaling that its movements were under close observation.
During this incident, the Yantar was accompanied by the Russian frigate Admiral Golovko and the tanker Vyazma, which left the area after the British intervention.
Capabilities of the Russian ship. The Yantar, operated by the Russian Navy’s Main Directorate for Deep Sea Research and officially classified as a Project 22010 oceanographic research vessel, is equipped for intelligence gathering. Its autonomous submersibles, capable of operating at depths of up to 18,044 feet, can identify, map, and manipulate submarine cables critical to Europe’s connectivity and energy supply.
While these capabilities could enable sabotage, security experts such as Justin Crump of intelligence firm Sibylline suggest the ship’s primary purpose is to collect sensitive information for potential future operations.
Concerns about Russian sabotage. The Yantar’s activities have heightened concerns in the UK and across Europe. Similar incidents in the Baltic Sea involved severed undersea power and telecommunications cables, suspected to be deliberate acts of sabotage. However, official investigations into those cases have pointed to alternative causes, including technical issues and inexperience.
In response, NATO launched Operation Baltic Sentry, increasing its presence in the region with warships, air patrols, and drones to safeguard critical infrastructure.
What the UK says. Following the second Yantar incident, Healey emphasized that Russia remains the most immediate and significant threat to the UK. He reaffirmed the UK’s commitment to protecting national security through decisive action.
The Royal Navy’s rules of engagement have been updated to allow closer monitoring of Russian vessels suspected of hostile activity. HMS Somerset and HMS Tyne escorted the Yantar into Dutch waters to ensure it did not linger in British waters.
The Yantar’s reappearance underscores the growing threat to the UK’s critical infrastructure and the need for constant vigilance and robust responses.
Image | Royal Navy
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