A Russian spy ship fled UK territorial waters after a Royal Navy submarine surfaced next to it in a show of force, The Defence Secretary revealed today.
John Healey told MPs he approved a mission targeting the Yantar, saying it was ‘loitering over UK critical undersea infrastructure’ at the time.
The vessel scarpered to the Mediterranean, followed by surface vessels and RAF aircraft, after being spooked by the sub in the North Sea in November.
But it is currently making the return journey through the English Channel, shadowed again by Navy warships, the Commons was told.
It is the latest incident in which Russian vessels have been accused of shady behaviour.
Almost 200 RN sailors were recalled on Christmas Day so they could be deployed to shadow Russian warships spotted in the North Sea and English Channel.
Frigate HMS Somerset set sail on Friday December 27, to keep a watch on the corvette RFS Soobrazitelny and two support vessels, MV Sparta II and MV General Skobelev for almost 500 miles.
Mr Healey told MPs today: ‘I also wanted President Putin to hear this message: we see you, we know what you’re doing and we will not shy away from robust action to protect this country.’
‘It was detected loitering over UK critical undersea infrastructure. To deter any potential threat, I took measured steps then as part of a clear direct response to the Russian vessel.
‘RAF maritime patrol aircraft alongside HMS Cattistock, HMS Tyne and RFA Proteus were deployed to shadow Yantar’s every movement.
‘Today, I also wanted to confirm to the House that I authorised a Royal Navy submarine, strictly as a deterrent measure, to surface close to Yantar to make clear that we had been covertly monitoring its every move.
‘The ship then left UK waters without further loitering and sailed down to the Mediterranean.’
He added: ‘Let me be clear, this is a Russian spy ship used for gathering intelligence and mapping the UK’s critical underwater infrastructure.
‘Yantar entered the UK exclusive economic zone about 45 miles off the British coast on Monday.
‘For the last two days the Royal Navy has deployed HMS Somerset and HMS Tyne to monitor the vessel every minute through our waters.’
Shadow defence secretary James Cartlidge said he supported the Government’s openness over how it was tackling the Russian naval threat.
Mr Cartlidge said the Conservative opposition stood ‘shoulder to shoulder’ with Labour over their approach.
He said: ‘We welcome that transparency because it is critical for our war readiness … that as far as we are able, and without compromising our national security and operational security, we tell the British public the truth about the serious nature of the Russian threat and what that will inevitably mean for public expenditure on defence.
‘I specifically welcome the change to the Royal Navy’s rules of engagement. This sends a powerful signal to Putin that we will not be intimidated and that if his aim is to keep pushing the boundaries of malign activity in our waters, and those proximate to us, we will respond.’