ZONA MILITAR
In recent hours, the United Kingdom’s Ministry of Defence, through its head, reported that the Russian Navy research vessel Yantar was again detected near British waters, particularly off the northern tip of the English Isles. In response, the Royal Navy deployed the Type 23 frigate HMS Somerset (F82) and a P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft from the Royal Air Force (RAF) to track and monitor the activities of the Russian-flagged vessel.
The incident was reported by UK Defence Secretary John Healey to the British Parliament earlier today, noting that this is the second time this year that the Russian vessel Yantar has been observed operating near UK waters. In the words of the British parliamentarian: “This is a ship designed to collect intelligence and map our undersea cables.”
It is important to note that for several years, the UK Ministry of Defence has regarded the Yantar as a Russian “spy” ship, leading to close monitoring using multiple naval and aerial assets. One of the latest instances occurred earlier this year when a Royal Navy nuclear submarine surfaced near the Russian vessel to deter it, as it was operating near critical undersea infrastructure in the UK’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
According to reports, concern over this vessel stems from its capabilities. Specifically, the Yantar, the flagship of Project 22010, belongs to the Main Directorate of Deep-Sea Research (GUGI) and is officially classified as an “oceanographic research ship” of the Russian Navy. In recent years, the Yantar has gained attention for conducting surveillance in the Atlantic, the North Sea, and the Barents Sea, particularly around critical undersea infrastructure.
Among other capabilities, various reports suggest that the Yantar can intercept or cut undersea cables, as well as investigate and recover objects at depths of up to nearly 5,500 meters. Severomorsk serves as its home port, and the vessel is capable of deploying up to two types of autonomous submersibles specially designed for deep-sea operations, specifically the Rus and Konsul classes.
Additionally, it is important to note that the 108.1-meter-long and 17.2-meter-wide ship is based in Olenya Bay, which hosts not only the GUGI base but also conventional and nuclear-powered submarines of the Russian Navy.
Finally, observers suggest that this second occurrence is part of a broader campaign of intelligence collection and espionage by the Russian Navy against NATO member states, operating within the administrative boundaries of Russia’s Northern Fleet.
In a similar vein, a recent example occurred just a few days ago when the Royal Netherlands Navy deployed units to conduct surveillance of the Russian Navy research vessel Yantar while it was transiting the North Sea. For the Dutch Ministry of Defence, that event represented further evidence of a long-standing concern: that Russia is increasing its naval presence in the region with research vessels potentially mapping key underwater infrastructure.
It is important to note that for several years, the UK Ministry of Defence has regarded the Yantar as a Russian “spy” ship, leading to close monitoring using multiple naval and aerial assets. One of the latest instances occurred earlier this year when a Royal Navy nuclear submarine surfaced near the Russian vessel to deter it, as it was operating near critical undersea infrastructure in the UK’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
Among other capabilities, various reports suggest that the Yantar can intercept or cut undersea cables, as well as investigate and recover objects at depths of up to nearly 5,500 meters. Severomorsk serves as its home port, and the vessel is capable of deploying up to two types of autonomous submersibles specially designed for deep-sea operations, specifically the Rus and Konsul classes.
Additionally, it is important to note that the 108.1-meter-long and 17.2-meter-wide ship is based in Olenya Bay, which hosts not only the GUGI base but also conventional and nuclear-powered submarines of the Russian Navy.
Finally, observers suggest that this second occurrence is part of a broader campaign of intelligence collection and espionage by the Russian Navy against NATO member states, operating within the administrative boundaries of Russia’s Northern Fleet.
In a similar vein, a recent example occurred just a few days ago when the Royal Netherlands Navy deployed units to conduct surveillance of the Russian Navy research vessel Yantar while it was transiting the North Sea. For the Dutch Ministry of Defence, that event represented further evidence of a long-standing concern: that Russia is increasing its naval presence in the region with research vessels potentially mapping key underwater infrastructure.
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