A Russian spy ship, the Yantar, has been detected operating near UK waters north of Scotland, according to UK Defence Secretary John Healey. The vessel, known for its intelligence-gathering capabilities, has reportedly used lasers to distract pilots of surveillance aircraft monitoring its movements. Speaking at a press conference in Downing Street, Healey emphasized that this marks the second instance in a year that the Yantar has entered UK waters. The ship is specifically designed to map undersea cables and gather intelligence, posing a potential threat to the UK’s undersea infrastructure and that of its allies. Healey issued a stern warning to Russia, stating, ‘We see you. We know what you’re doing. And if the Yantar travels south this week, we are ready.’ The Yantar is part of a Russian fleet associated with the Main Directorate of Deep-Sea Research (GUGI), a program aimed at conducting surveillance during peacetime and sabotage in conflict scenarios. Healey highlighted the UK’s determination to track and deter such activities, working in coordination with allies to ensure readiness and capability. This incident follows a similar warning issued by the Defence Secretary in January when the Yantar was previously spotted in UK waters.