UK Issues Severe Warning to Russia Following Incursion of Military Ship and Laser Targeting Incident

The U.K. government issued a warning to the Kremlin on Wednesday, following reports that a Russian military vessel had entered British waters and aimed lasers at U.K. pilots.

Defense Secretary John Healey informed reporters in London that this incident marked the second time this year that the ship had intruded into U.K. waters, with a previous occurrence occurring in January.

«The Yantar has been operating at the fringes of U.K. waters, north of Scotland, and has crossed into our broader maritime territory in recent weeks,» he stated during a press briefing at Downing Street.

In response, the U.K. military deployed a Royal Navy frigate and Royal Air Force aircraft to continually observe and track the vessel, during which time the Yantar directed lasers at our pilots, he noted.

He described the use of lasers as «extremely hazardous» and issued a statement directed at Russian President Vladimir Putin.

«We are aware of your actions. We see you. If the Yantar proceeds southward this week, we are fully prepared.»

Healey emphasized that the Yantar is «part of a Russian fleet aimed at threatening and compromising our undersea infrastructure and that of our allies.»

Concerns have been rising among Britain and NATO allies regarding the risks Moscow poses to offshore infrastructure, especially following recent acts of sabotage targeting several undersea telecom and power cables.

Analysts and lawmakers have accused Russia of conducting a hybrid war against the West, as tensions escalate over the situation in Ukraine.