UK’s Defence Secretary John Healey has issued a stark warning to Moscow after a Russian spy ship was detected just north of Scotland, saying the UK is prepared to act if the vessel moves further into British waters. Speaking in London, Healey confirmed the Yantar, a ship known for mapping undersea cables, is “on the edge of UK waters” for the second time this year. He said a Royal Navy frigate and RAF P-8 patrol aircraft had been deployed to monitor the vessel, and accused its crew of taking a “deeply dangerous” step by shining lasers at RAF pilots. His message to Russia and President Vladimir Putin was blunt: “We see you, we know what you’re doing, and if the Yantar travels south this week we are ready.”
Healey framed the incident as part of a broader “new era of threat,” referencing the brief Iran-Israel conflict, the exposure of Chinese spies in Parliament and the rising use of drones over Europe. He argued that the evolving geopolitical climate requires “an era of hard power, strong allies and sure diplomacy,” insisting Britain must increase its defences as adversaries grow more assertive.
His comments follow a damning report from the Commons Defence Committee, which concluded that the UK is “nowhere near” prepared to defend itself in the event of a major conflict. MPs warned the country lacks a plan to protect the homeland and its overseas territories and remains heavily dependent on the United States for intelligence, satellite capabilities, troop transport and aerial refuelling. Committee chair Tan Dhesi said the government must confront reality, citing Russia’s war in Ukraine, disinformation campaigns and repeated incursions into European airspace as proof that the UK “cannot afford to bury our heads in the sand.”
Security experts have echoed those concerns. Dr Simon Bennett of the University of Leicester said the UK is “sleepwalking into a bloody ambush” and risks losing its sovereignty unless it adopts a more urgent defensive posture. At Chatham House, Keir Giles noted that while the most recent defence review emphasised public awareness and resilience, it follows decades in which governments failed to explain the scale of the threats facing the country.
Even as Britain’s defensive shortcomings are highlighted, the government is preparing a major expansion of its domestic arms industry. Healey is expected to announce progress on at least 13 potential sites for new munitions and explosives factories, with construction on the first plant slated to begin next year. The Ministry of Defence has already funded feasibility studies for new facilities that would revive large-scale UK production of explosives, propellants and pyrotechnics for the first time in almost 20 years. Potential locations include Grangemouth in Scotland, Teesside in the north-east of England and Milford Haven in Wales, with officials estimating that at least 1,000 jobs could be created.
