Russian spy ship tracked in UK waters: What We Know

Alleged Use of Maritime Asset for Covert Operations

The Kremlin is believed to have deployed a naval vessel to conduct covert monitoring of the ocean floor, with the intent of extracting information that could be leveraged for acts of sabotage.

Key Points of the Allegation

• Targeted seabed surveillance
• Acquisition of strategic underwater data
• Potential application in illicit maritime activities

Britain’s Defence Secretary Raises Allegations About Russian Spy Vessel

John Healey, the UK Defence Secretary, issued a stern warning to Russian President Vladimir Putin after a Russian warship was spotted navigating UK waters this week.

Yantar’s Purpose Remains Dubious

• Officially listed as an oceanographic research vessel, Yantar is operated by a Russian Ministry of Defence agency.
• Western authorities suspect that the ship is in fact engaged in deep‑sea surveillance and espionage.
• Given its reputation, European governments routinely escort the vessel whenever it enters their waters.

Timing Chews Up Europe’s Security Concerns

• NATO has recently intensified its military activity in the Baltic region following a power cable incident on Christmas Day.
• Investigations are now focusing on an oil tanker believed to be part of the Kremlin’s sanctions‑busting shadow fleet.
• These incidents are part of a growing list of suspected sabotage actions, heightening fears that Europe’s submarine infrastructures—cables, pipelines, and power links—are becoming prime targets in Russia’s hybrid warfare campaign.

Euronews’ Fact‑Checking Findings

• Our investigative team has examined available evidence on Yantar and its alleged activities.
• Current conclusions point to the vessel’s dual role, combining research and covert intelligence gathering.
• Continued monitoring is essential to assess the threat level to undersea assets across the continent.

What do we know about Yantar?

Yantar and Its Growing Role in Russian Marine Operations

Since 2015, the vessel Yantar has been serving Russia’s undersea research organization, GUGI, under a research façade.

About GUGI

• Originated within the Russian navy
• Now operates as a separate entity under the Ministry of Defence
• Maintains a secretive public profile

GUGI’s Fleet at a Glance

• Yantar – a high‑tech research mothership
• Multiple specialised submarines, some nuclear‑powered
• Deep‑sea robots tethered to ships and manned vessels that reach 6,000 m

Yantar’s Primary Functions

Yantar is engineered for intelligence gathering. Its key capabilities include:

• Hovering over specific sites to deposit and retrieve objects from the seabed
• Housing crewed deep‑sea submarines that can dive up to 6,000 metres
• Operating tethered robotics for detailed surveys

Mothership Speculations

Submarine specialist H. I. Sutton described Yantar as a “special, unique” platform:

“Yantar likely carries out seabed operations that don’t demand the extreme stealth of conventional submarines, and it does so at a significantly lower cost,” Sutton noted.

Mapping Critical Infrastructure

Equipped with electronic seabed‑mapping sensors and a dedicated communication dome, Yantar appears to focus on charting the extensive network of pipelines and undersea cables that link Western nations.

When did it enter UK waters and why was it pursued by the Royal Navy?

UK Vessel Yantar Detected in the EEZ

Initial Appearance

On Monday, maritime surveillance located the vessel Yantar approximately 45 miles (83.3 km) off the British coastline, within the United Kingdom’s exclusive economic zone.

Trajectory Through the English Channel

Tracking data analysed by Euronews shows that, by Tuesday, Yantar had successfully navigated the English Channel. The vessel was moving eastward, entering the territorial waters of Belgium and the Netherlands.

A Recent Trajectory of the Russian Vessel Yantar

According to data from the maritime‑tracking platform Marine Traffic, a map illustrates the pathways of undersea cables and the movement of the Russian ship Yantar between 20 January and 21 January 2025.

Proximity to Key Telecommunications Routes

• Yantar’s course ran close to the Atlantic Crossing 1 cable—one of the main submarine fibre‑optic lines that connects the United States with the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Germany.

Recent Maritime Position

• On the Friday of the referenced week, the vessel was detected in the Kattegat strait, the waterway separating Denmark and Sweden.
• Based on tracking information, it appears the ship was progressing towards its homeport in St Petersburg.

Yantar’s Overture: A Rare Display in European Waters

UK Naval Response

The United Kingdom dispatched the Royal Navy frigates HMS Somerset and HMS Tyne to shadow the Russian research vessel Yantar on Wednesday. In a swift shift, the Ministry of Defence revised the rules of engagement, permitting a closer operational stance.

Unusual Submarine Participation

In addition to surface ships, a Royal Navy submarine was authorized to surface near Yantar—an unprecedented move in contemporary maritime practice.

Experts Weigh In

• Mike Plunkett, naval analyst at Janes Intelligence: “I can’t recall this happening before; it’s not something usually openly displayed against adversaries.”
• Plunkett suggested the action was a clear signal to Russian authorities: “We know the vessel’s intentions and are monitoring them closely.”

Defence Secretary’s Statement

The UK’s defence secretary described Yantar as a “spy ship” employed in “mapping the country’s critical underwater infrastructure.”

Significance for European Rhetoric

This stance represents the most forceful public condemnation from any European government regarding Yantar’s intelligence‑gathering activities to date.

Where else has it been spotted in European waters?

Unusual Naval Movements of the Russian Vessel Yantar

Removal from British and Irish Waters

In November, the UK defence secretary announced that the vessel Yantar was escorted out of Irish and British territorial waters after reports indicated it was loitering over critical undersea infrastructure in the United Kingdom.

Transit Through the Strait of Gibraltar

Later that month, maritime authorities detected the ship as it entered the Mediterranean via the Strait of Gibraltar, ultimately docking at the port of Algiers.

Mission to Survey the Wreck of MV Ursa Major

• The ship was dispatched to inspect the wreckage of the cargo vessel MV Ursa Major, which sank after an onboard explosion on 23 December.
• The kinematically‑linked vessel had been transporting cargo presumed to be weapons from Syria.
• The incident raises questions about the future of Russian military installations in a country whose pro‑Kremlin leader, Bashar al‑Assad, was displaced earlier that year.

Accusations of Terrorism

The company owning Yantar, closely tied to Kremlin interests, has characterized the sinking as an “act of terrorism.” Naval experts widely view the event as suspicious.

Speculated Objectives of Yantar’s Survey

Analysts believe Yantar’s assignment was to collect evidence regarding the vessel’s wreck and possibly to retrieve or destroy sensitive equipment, as suggested by naval commentator Sutton.

Could information gathered by Yantar be used for future acts of sabotage?

Unverified Claims of Undersea Cable Sabotage by Russian Services

Recent reports suggest that an unnamed Russian entity, allegedly connected to Yantar’s covert operations, may have been involved in cutting undersea cables. No classified evidence confirms that these mapping missions were employed for sabotage—an act that would typically involve vessels dragging anchors across the seabed to sever cables.

European Alarm Grows Over Suspected Attacks

• Last April: An essential communication line linking a Norwegian Arctic air base was damaged.
• November: Two critical cables in the Baltic Sea were severed, including Finland’s sole link to Central Europe.
• Christmas Day: The Estlink‑2 Baltic cable suffered damage.

Investigations point toward an oil tanker that appears to belong to Russia’s so‑called “shadow fleet.” While the Washington Post cites Western officials claiming an accidental cause, members of European political circles are quick to suspect Moscow’s involvement.

Expert Opinions on Possible Intent

Mike Plunkett, Janes Intelligence:

“I think it’s unlikely all of these incidents were accidents. Whether it’s a deliberate campaign or simply a test to see if a cable can be broken with an anchor, something is definitely going on.”

Analysis of the Shadow Fleet:

The Kremlin’s use of this fleet provides an “extra layer of deniability.” Its ownership, management, and flagging are intentionally opaque, complicating investigations and hindering any clear link to Russian authorities.