Royal Navy Tracks Russian Spy Ship Yantar In The English Channel

The Royal Navy has been tracking the Russian spy ship Yantar while it transited through the English Channel this week.

Yantar officially described by Russia as an oceanographic research vessel, is equipped with advanced technology capable of tampering with or severing underwater cables and retrieving objects from deep-sea locations.

The ship was previously linked with espionage activities involving UK underwater assets. The Royal Navy deployed the Type 23 frigate HMS Somerset and the patrol ship HMS Tyne to monitor Yantar’s movements.

HMS Somerset covertly launched its Merlin helicopter to track the ship as it entered the channel near Ushant, France, before proceeding through UK waters.

This ensured that Yantar’s activities were closely monitored as it travelled 45 miles off the UK coast within the exclusive economic zone.

Commander Matthew Teare of HMS Somerset discussed the importance of such missions, saying “Monitoring vessels like Yantar is a routine yet vital task to safeguard national security.”

Yantar was detected lingering near critical undersea infrastructure in UK waters in November.

The Royal Navy responded by surfacing a submarine close to the vessel. Afte…

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