Russian spy ship Yantar monitored in English Channel
The Yantar being flanked in the Channel. (Photo: Royal Navy/Crown copyright)
The Russian vessel Yantar, identified by the UK Department of Defence as a spy ship, has been monitored in the English Channel for a week by Royal Navy (RN) vessels.
In November 2024, the Yantar, which is technically classed as a research ship, but has been documented by security services as carrying equipment that would allow it to identify and interfere with subsea cables, was spotted loitering off the southern coast of Ireland.
It was given a warning by the RN and left UK waters, bound for the Mediterranean.
This week it returned, and sailed through the English Channel,
Our news & analysis is now part of Defence Insight®
A Basic-level or higher Defence Insight subscription is now required to view this content.
More from Naval Warfare
-
Asia-Pacific emerges as the largest export market for US-made USVs
Asian customers have placed one of the largest known international purchases of US-built uncrewed surface vessels, highlighting accelerating regional demand for autonomous maritime capabilities and distributed naval operations.
-
RTX confirms US Marine Corps and US Navy acquire Hadalus UUV
RTX told Shephard that the Hadalus UUV has been procured by the US Marine Corps and the Office of Naval Research for operational experimentation as the company prepares additional demonstrations with the US Navy, NATO and AUKUS partners.
-
Europe’s naval contractors benefit from growing refit and upgrade demand
Rheinmetall’s order to modernise the German Navy frigate Bayern points to a wider European shift towards extending warship service life as new-build programmes face delay.