Russian spy ship on edge of UK waters, defence secretary says

A Russian spy ship is on the edge of UK waters north of Scotland and has directed lasers at pilots of surveillance aircraft monitoring its activities, the defence secretary has said.

Speaking at a press conference in Downing Street, John Healey said it was the second time in a year that the Yantar had entered UK waters.

The ship is "designed for gathering intelligence and mapping our undersea cables", Healey told journalists.

"My message to Russia and to Putin is this: we see you. We know what you're doing. And if the Yantar travels south this week, we are ready," he added.