Royal Navy tracking Russian vessel in English Channel

A Royal Navy warship has been tracking an alleged Russian spy ship in the English Channel this week.

The news comes weeks after the vessel was seen loitering over critical undersea infrastructure in UK waters. At that time, a Royal Navy submarine surfaced close to the Russian vessel, know as Yantar, to warn it had been monitoring the ship.

In response, Yantar left UK waters for the Mediterranean, but has since returned this week, sailing through the Channel. At this point, it was flanked by HMS Somerset.

Defence Secretary John Healey MP said: "My message to President Putin is clear. We know what you are doing, and we will not shy away from robust action to protect Britain.

"National security is our government’s first duty and a foundation of our Plan for Change. Alongside our Joint Expeditionary Force and NATO allies, we are strengthening our response to ensure that Russian ships and aircraft cannot operate in secrecy near UK or NATO territory.

"We will continue to call out the malign activity that Putin directs, cracking down on the Russian shadow fleet to prevent funding for his illegal invasion of Ukraine."