A Royal Navy submarine was authorized to surface close to a Russian ship "strictly as a deterrent measure," British Defense Secretary John Healey said.

For the second time in just weeks, an alleged Russian spy ship has entered UK waters, the British Ministry of Defence (MoD) announced on Wednesday. The Royal Navy will continue to track the movements of the Russian vessel,

Russian ships which damage British underwater cables face being raided and seized by Royal Marine Commandos, Defence Secretary John Healey has signalled. He stressed that the UK was willing to take “the strongest possible response” as part of its “homeland” security operations.

A Russian spy ship has been monitored by the Royal Navy after it entered UK waters earlier this week, the defence secretary has said - as he issued a warning to President Vladimir Putin.

In a message to Vladimir Putin, Defence Secretary John Healey said ‘we see you, we know what you are doing and we will not shy away from robust action to protect this country’

The Royal Navy has been closely monitoring a Russian spy ship, the Yantar, which was spotted near UK waters earlier this week, according to Defence Secretary John Healey. He confirmed that the vessel was gathering intelligence and mapping critical underwater infrastructure around the UK.

Defence secretary John Healey said the Russian vessel Yantar is being 'used for gathering intelligence and mapping the UK’s critical underwater infrastructure'

A Russian "spy ship" was tracked by the Royal Navy as it entered British waters, UK Defence Secretary John Healey told parliament Wednesday amid heightened concerns over the security of underwater infrastructure.

A Royal Navy submarine was authorized to surface close to a Russian ship "strictly as a deterrent measure," British Defense Secretary John Healey said.

Defence Secretary John Healey said Russia "remains the most pressing and immediate threat to Britain", and added that "any threat will be met with strength and resolve".

The Defence Secretary told the Russian leader: "We see you, we know what you are doing and we will not shy away from robust action to protect this country." It came as the minister told MPs the Russian vessel, Yanta, was currently in the North Sea having passed through British waters.